Lgn4 & Community Revitglizgtion
BROWNFIELPS SUCCESS IN NEW EN6LAN
THE PRAWER BLOCK
BATH, MAINE
Property Details
Property Address:
Property Size:
Former Use:
Contaminants Found:
Current Use:
Current Owner:
195-235 Front Street, Bath, Maine
2.4 Acres
Foundry, machine shop, warehouses,
miscellaneous businesses
Petroleum, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), lead, other metals
Hotel - Bath Hampton Inn
Maine Course Hospitality Group of Freeport
Project Partners
EPA, City of Bath, Maine Department of Economic and Community
Development, and Maine Course Hospitality Group of Freeport
Drivers for Redevelopment: The Prawer Block in Bath, Maine is
part of a historic and revitalized downtown area on the banks of the
Kennebec River. The redevelopment of the Prawer Block—between
the northern end of Commercial and Front Streets—realizes a vision
to diversify the downtown economy while still retaining its historic
character.
Property History: The property occupies 2.4 acres of the Prawer
Block, called that because of a wholesale distribution operation once
run there by Bath businessman Sam Prawer. Since before 1890, a
variety of other businesses and industrial uses have taken place on
the Prawer Block, including a foundry, machine shop, warehouses,
gas station and automobile repair garage, and other miscellaneous
businesses. The City of Bath completed assessments on the property
that identified contamination to the soil and ground water of
petroleum, PAHs, lead, and other metals.
After completing the initial assessments, the City of Bath received a
Maine Investment Trust Fund grant that aided in the demolition of the
rundown Prawer Block warehouse. However, previous developers'
attempts to develop the site did not come to fruition. With the structure
removed, the city assessed the remainder of the property through
a supplemental Phase II investigation, and completed remediation
planning and community outreach activities.
Project Results: The remediation of the site was initiated in
conjunction with the construction of the hotel in June of 2009.
Contaminated soil was either capped in place or relocated to a raised
cap area that also served as parking. A small amount of heavily
contaminated soil was removed and disposed offsite. A sub-slab
venting system was also installed at the building. The city utilized its
Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to assist the developer in the
carrying out the remediation plans.
On May 22, 2010, Maine Course Hospitality Group along with the
Hilton Hotels, which oversees the Hampton Inn chain, opened the
Funding Details
Phase I Assessment Grant (2004): $3,500
Brownfields Phase H Assessment Grant (2004): $47,000
Brownfields Supplemental Assessments (2008): $69,705
Brownflelds Revolving Loan Fund for Cleanup: $413,000
Leveraged private funding: $1,700,000
Maine Investment Trust Fund grant to assist in
the demolition of the old Prawer Block building: $120,000
Project Highlights
Cleanup operations initiated in 2009 resulted in capping the
contaminated soil and removal and offsite disposal of approximately 1
ton of lead contaminated soil; and the installation of a sub-slab venting
system below the building foundation
Hampton Inn opened in May 2010 and creates 16 full-time and 10 part-
time new jobs and is expected to generate over $100,000 of additional
tax revenue to the City of Bath
Meets the planning goal of a downtown hotel that has been envisioned
by the city for over 20 years
Bath Hampton Inn on the former Prawer Block site for business. The
roughly 55,000-square-foot hotel features 94 rooms, a meeting room,
an indoor saline pool and spa, and high-speed Internet access. The
developer, Maine Course Hospitality Group of Freeport, constructed
the hotel to be compatible with surrounding buildings. The opening
of the Hampton Inn helps realize Bath's goal to preserve the
downtown area as a thriving area with diverse businesses.
This long desired project, which led to a $1.7 million dollar private
investment and the creation of 16 full-time and 10 part-time jobs,
would not have occurred without the environmental assessments
that were conducted on this brownfield site through the city's
Brownfield Assessment Program and the financial assistance towards
remediation that was provided through its Brownfield Revolving
Loan Fund.
Project Timeline
December 3, 2003
July 22, 2004
July 2005
August 21, 2008
December 10, 2008
December 23, 2008
June 2009
May 22, 2010
September 14, 2010
Phase I Assessment Completed
Phase II Assessment Grant Completed
Demolition of Prawer Warehouse Completed
Phase I Assessment Update Completed
Supplemental Phase II Assessment Completed
No Action Assurance Letter Issued by Maine DEP
Construction and Remediation Begins
Hampton Inn Opens for Business
Certificate of Completion Issued by Maine DEP
December 2010
Local Contact: Al Smith, City of Bath • (207) 443-8372 • asmith@cityofbath.com
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