Kevin Mattson, the owner of the Newcastle’s “elevator to nowhere” development has asked to meet with planners as town officials hope he will revive the dormant project.
“We hope he will be able to do something,” said Ron Grenier, the town administrator.
At issue is the Twin Villages Marina and Town House project on Main Street that has been dormant for at least two years. Last fall, town officials fenced the project to prevent children from injuring themselves at the project.
Last week, Mattson met with Grenier, Stan Waltz, town code enforcement officer, Rick Burt, chair of the planning board and Peter Drum, the town legal counsel.
Grenier said they told Mattson he would be required to obtain another building permit and meet town ordinances if he wanted to revive the project.
“We want a win-win solution. If he can make it right and finish it if off – good, but he must meet the town standards,” he said.
Attempts to reach Mattson were unsuccessful. However, recently he told MaineBiz that his once soaring development business hit the wall in 2008 when the nation’s economy crashed. Recently, he has been rebuilding and has several projects in the works.
Grenier said at his meeting with Mattson, the developer did not outline a plan for the Newcastle project other than to suggest he might like to relocate the Newcastle Publick House restaurant to the location.
Mattson has scheduled an informational pre-application meeting with the Newcastle Planning Board for 7 p.m. Thurs., May 20 at the town’s meeting room adjacent to the Newcastle Fire Station on River Road.
“We hope he might be able to tell us more at that time,” said Grenier.
