Historic Preservation Commission approves altered storefront plan for Ryan LLC at 43–49 Main Street

The Bangor Historic Preservation Commission voted June 11 to grant Ryan LLC a certificate of appropriateness and a design review permit for exterior repairs at 43–49 Main Street in the Main Street Historic District.

Nick Mullins, an owner of Ryan LLC, told the commission that vandals had ‘chisel[ed] the side of our downtown building’ and described two options: a full column replacement costing ‘about 30 to $35,000’ or a less invasive repair estimated at ‘about $10,000,’ under which the lower portion of the center column and the bulkhead would be replaced with black polished granite while the cast-iron grills would be retained and repaired.

City architect Mike Poland briefed the commission on the building’s history (circa 1872, attributed in staff materials to the Bass Rins Hatch block and architect George Orf) and clarified storefront terminology, noting that the lower storefront portion is the bulkhead. Poland said the black polished granite on the column base was acceptable provided the cast-iron grills were preserved, which the applicant confirmed he would do and that missing grill elements would be rewelded and repainted black.

Commissioners reviewed the packet’s exhibits and moved through the statutory findings in the commission’s code, including the historic preservation standards cited in the staff report. Members said the proposed contrast using black granite would read as an intentional design choice and that retaining surviving cast-iron work preserved important character-defining features. After sequential motions finding the application met the applicable provisions, the commission voted to grant the certificate of appropriateness and the associated design review permit.

Staff said the certificate will be issued to the applicant in a few weeks after formal adoption on the next commission agenda; staff also told the applicant he may proceed with the work subject to the normal permitting process. Mullins thanked the commission and said construction would start in the coming weeks.

Provenance: The applicant presentation and consultant report begin with the applicant’s first comments (application materials and damage description) and the consultant’s historical summary; the commission’s motions and vote conclude the item. (Transcript topic introduction: SEG 112; topic finish: SEG 669.)