Bangor council authorizes negotiations for Central Kitchen project despite cost concerns

The Bangor City Council on Jan. 26 authorized the city manager to negotiate with Sheridan Construction for construction-manager services to build a new Bangor Central Kitchen at 50 Cleveland Street. Councilor (speaker 18) moved the order, which passed on a roll-call vote, 6–2.

The project as described by proponents calls for demolition of an 18,167-square-foot former Officers Club and construction of an approximately 18,000-square-foot prefabricated building to support shared-use food production, entrepreneurship, education and community events serving the Greater Bangor region. Anne Krieg, director of community economic development, told the council that construction and operations funding would come from the city’s enterprise fund (the ED fund) and that consultants are updating operations and management plans.

Residents and other commenters urged caution. One speaker warned that earlier estimates suggested the project could lose as much as $200,000 over five years and asked the council to ‘stop any property tax hikes’ and consider reserves before authorizing new spending. Another speaker pressed for a “clear, realistic breakdown of long-term operating costs and who will be responsible for covering them,” and asked whether the kitchen would duplicate existing food-services providers.

Council discussion focused on whether authorizing a construction-manager negotiation would provide updated data and guardrails or instead commit the city to further sunk costs. Supporters said moving forward would allow staff to obtain more accurate cost and operations information; opponents asked for additional transparency and oversight. The motion to authorize negotiations passed with Councilors Bet, Carson, Dean, Falloon, Fish and Leonard voting yes and Councilors Mallor and Haas voting no.

The council’s action authorizes contract negotiations only; it does not award a final construction contract or change the city budget beyond use of the enterprise fund resources already identified. Staff said further analysis and an updated operations plan will be provided as the project advances.

Next steps: staff will negotiate terms with Sheridan Construction and return to the council with a proposed contract and updated operational and financial projections.