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As a non-participant in the ongoing saga of Steven Farren’s roof and the Bangor Historic Preservation Commission, I would like to point out two things, and then I have a question.
First, in a previous article in the BDN, it was stated that approximately two dozen other historic homes in the Bangor area had replaced their roofs with the same “fake slate” that Farren has used and have not been fined or punished. They also did not incur the expense of the application fees that Farren has been charged. Perhaps they were going to ask for forgiveness rather than permission?
Second, according to the estimated cost of installing a new real slate roof (around $250,000), that would make his roof alone worth more than one-half the value of his house ($472,000).
My question is why? If no one has noticed that the other roofs with the replacement shingles aren’t “real,” why can’t he use the same thing? We are talking about a quarter of a million dollars here.
Be reasonable, Bangor!
Sue Shaw
Penobscot