BANGOR, Maine — John Karnes wants a little more time to turn the former Pine Tree Inn into extended stay suites.
The developer and construction company operator was renovating the property at 22 Cleveland St. on Monday with the hope of finishing the $1 million project by mid-March.
“We are approximately 50 percent done at this point,” Karnes said. “It’s a great building we’re working with. It has great structure and bones to it. We’ve done all of the rough framing, wiring, plumbing and heating. We’re moving along well.”
The Bangor City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 24 to extend the city’s purchase and development agreement with Karnes, who owns R&K Construction. The extension request was recommended by the council’s Business and Economic Development Committee on Oct. 18, city officials said.
The city issued a request for proposals in late 2014 looking for a developer to take on the project. As a result of that search, the city drafted a development agreement with R&K. Karnes was to pay $10,000 for the property and invest at least $900,000 in the project, according to his agreement with the city.
Formerly part of Dow Air Force Base, the facility was used as living quarters for military personnel. When the base was decommissioned in 1969, the Maine Army National Guard and Army Reserve assumed control of it.
More recently, the building housed military retirees, guard and reserve personnel, according to city officials. The city acquired the property in 2012 from the University of Maine System, which had taken over the deed from the federal government.
Karnes attributed the delay to his desire to install a more advanced heating and air conditioning system to the building, plus “some additional fine finishing touches to the building, which take more time,” he said.
“We feel there is a need in the area. It’s in a great area,” Karnes said. “It’s near the airport and the interstate yet it is kind of quiet and private here.”
The building will keep the Pine Tree Inn name when it opens, Karnes said.