A Topsham development firm has contacted the Edgecomb Board of Selectmen to notify the board of the firm’s intent to sell a former Roger Bintliff property, which consists of 11 unsold housing units, a restaurant and an inn.
According to Edgecomb Selectmen chair John Johnson, a Maine court took over the Davis Island property next to the Rt. 1 Davey Bridge and put it into receivership, which allows another firm to manage the property in order to recuperate money.
The development company, Priority Group, LLC, has been designated as the receiver. They will manage the property, which is occupied by the Sheepscot Harbor Village and Resort, Bintliff’s Ocean Grille and a number of cottages, in order to recuperate funds for the Wiscasset Savings Bank.
Attempts to reach Bintliff for comment by press time were unsuccessful.
This property, still owned by Edgecomb Development, LLC, includes just over 39 acres of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district and almost 16 additional acres approved for development by the Sheepscot River shorefront, according to planning board member Jarryl Larson.
According to Johnson, Priority Group partner Don Jenkins and main developer Jim Howard approached selectmen to see what the town would like to have happen with the property. Johnson said the company plans to sell the restaurant, inn and housing units.
The plan, Johnson said, is to recuperate as much money for the bank as possible. Selectman Jack Sarmanian, who also met with the developers, said Roger Bintliff, of Edgecomb, is no longer involved as a manager of the property and has moved out. He said Bintliff remains a member of the landowners’ association and the association is still going to be strong.
The company wants to minimize losses for the bank, Johnson said, adding that he believes the bank might foreclose on the property.
“I thought it was a very positive meeting,” Johnson said. “He (Howard) asked us what the town would like to do.”
The company is permitted to build up to 11 houses on the “Jim Hall” property, which Sarmanian said is located further down the Eddy Road, abutting the parcel on which the cottages, inn and restaurant sit. Larson said this “Phase Two-B” parcel is not part of the TIF district on the Edgecomb Development land and no building plans have come forward to the Planning Board as of yet.
Selectmen said the company wants to develop the Rt. 1 area for commercial use, as that is the Priority Group’s primary focus.
“It sounds like a win for the town,” Selectman Stewart Smith said.
The company will ensure the restaurant is up to code and selectmen agreed in that it should be able to be sold.
