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Former Navy Base Site in Corea Plagued by Vandalism

April 1, 2009 by on Community Announcements

GOULDSBORO — The most frequent visitors these days to the former Navy Base site in the village of Corea are seagulls and scavengers of another sort — vandals who have ransacked and damaged several buildings.

Vandalism is the only current activity at the former Navy Base property in Corea, but parties who three years ago proposed developing an aquaculture farm on the site say their plans are very much alive.—JACQUELINE WEAVER
Vandalism is the only current activity at the former Navy Base property in Corea, but parties who three years ago proposed developing an aquaculture farm on the site say their plans are very much alive.—JACQUELINE WEAVER
A visitor who served with the Navy in Corea hiked around the area recently and was upset by what he saw: beer bottles, broken windows, and office furniture and other paraphernalia strewn about the buildings.

There is no evidence of the proposal announced three years ago to create a Gulf of Maine Aquaculture Business Park with up to 15 tenants.

Maine Halibut Farms, which optioned 7.5 acres at the site, said its plans are very much alive.

“I hesitate to put dates out there,” said Alan Spear, the company’s president.

Police Officer Jim Malloy said the entity in charge of overseeing the property, Eastern Maine Development Corp. (EMDC) of Bangor, repaired the outer gate and gave police keys to both gates after EMDC was informed about the vandalism.

The Navy abandoned the 450-acre parcel between Prospect Harbor and Corea in 2002, along with properties in Winter Harbor.

The University of Maine system took ownership of 40 acres, and promptly transferred the property to Acadia Capital Corp. of Bangor, a nonprofit economic development agency associated with Eastern Maine Development Corp (EMDC).

Michael Aube, president and chief executive officer of EMDC, said the agency did receive reports of vandalism at the site, but said EMDC had not yet taken steps to secure the property.

For complete story, pick up a copy of The Ellsworth American.

Nicole Ouellette

Nicole Ouellette

Columnist at Breaking Even Communications
When Nicole isn't giving advice she's completely unqualified to give, she runs an Internet marketing company in Bar Harbor, where she lives with her husband Derrick and their short dog Gidget. She loves young adult novels, cooking and talking French to anyone who'll talk back. [email protected]