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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 901S.P. 390 In Senate, March 11, 2025
Resolve, Directing the Maine State Housing Authority to Negotiate
for the Purchase of or Acquire by Eminent Domain the Land and
Buildings Commonly Known as the Bangor Mall
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 5, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Housing and Economic Development pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative ROEDER of Bangor and
Representatives: RANA of Bangor, SUPICA of Bangor. Page 1 - 132LR0890(01)1 That the Maine State Housing Authority
2 shall enter into negotiations for the purchase of the property commonly known as the
3 Bangor Mall located in the City of Bangor, referred to in this resolve as "the Bangor Mall."
4
5 agreement or other contract for the conveyance of the Bangor Mall to the Maine State
6 Housing Authority pursuant to section 1 has not been executed by all necessary parties
7 within 12 months of the effective date of this resolve, the Maine State Housing Authority
8 shall exercise its right of eminent domain pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
9 30-A, section 4746 and in the manner provided in Title 30-A, section 5108.
10
11 months of acquiring the Bangor Mall by purchase pursuant to section 1 or eminent domain
12 pursuant to section 2, submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature
13 having jurisdiction over housing matters that includes the following:
14 The costs of converting the Bangor Mall into affordable housing units; and
15
16 authority pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 201, subchapter 2, to
17 be called the Bangor Mall Housing Authority. The legislation proposing the creation of
18 the Bangor Mall Housing Authority must include the following:
19 A. That the area of operation of the Bangor Mall Housing Authority is limited to the
20 area of property conveyed to or taken by the Maine State Housing Authority under this
21 resolve and the area of operation of any municipal housing authority in the City of
22 Bangor excludes this area;
23 B. That, notwithstanding Title 30-A, section 4723, subsection 1, the 7 commissioners
24 of the Bangor Mall Housing Authority must be appointed as follows:
25 (1) Two members representing the City of Bangor, appointed by the municipal
26 officers of the City of Bangor;
27 (2) Two members representing Penobscot County, appointed by the Penobscot
28 County commissioners; and
29 (3) Three members representing the State, one appointed by the Governor, one
30 appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the
31 House of Representatives; and
32 C. That the duties of the Bangor Mall Housing Authority must include, but are not
33 limited to:
34 (1) Retaining any existing commercial tenants at market rent rates and under other
35 terms and conditions common to commercial rentals;
36 (2) Redeveloping the remaining space in the Bangor Mall into affordable housing
37 units consisting of one-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units; and
38 (3) Offering the affordable housing units for rent to individuals or families making
39 between 2 and 4 times the federal poverty level, as defined in Title 22, section
40 3762. Page 2 - 132LR0890(01)
1 That the following
2 appropriations and allocations are made.
3
4
5 Initiative: Provides one-time funds for the purchase of the land and buildings commonly
6 known as the Bangor Mall as well as for any emergency repairs.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26 2026-27All Other $20,000,000 $0
____________________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$20,000,000 $0
7
12 Initiative: Provides one-time funds for infrastructure improvements to the land and
13 buildings commonly known as the Bangor Mall.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26 2026-27All Other $5,000,000 $0
____________________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$5,000,000 $0
14
HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $25,000,000 $0
____________________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$25,000,000 $0
19
20 This resolve requires the Maine State Housing Authority to enter into negotiations to
21 purchase the land and buildings located in the City of Bangor commonly known as the
22 Bangor Mall. If, within 12 months of the effective date of this resolve, a purchase and sale
23 agreement, or other contract for the purchase of the Bangor Mall has not been executed by
24 all necessary parties, the Maine State Housing Authority is required to exercise its right of
25 eminent domain to acquire the Bangor Mall. Within 6 months of acquiring the Bangor
26 Mall, the Maine State Housing Authority is required to submit a report to the joint standing
27 committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters detailing the costs
28 of converting the Bangor Mall into affordable housing units and proposing legislation to
29 create the Bangor Mall Housing Authority. The area of operation of the Bangor Mall
30 Housing Authority must be limited to the area of property conveyed to or taken by the
31 Maine State Housing Authority under this resolve, and the area of operation of any
32 municipal housing authority in the City of Bangor excludes this area. The resolve
33 appropriates $25,000,000 to the Maine State Housing Authority for the purchase and
34 improvement of the Bangor Mall.
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