Odd Fellows building escapes legal limbo

NORWAY — Some title issues that have delayed the sale of the Odd Fellows building on Norway's Main Street have finally been resolved, according to a statement released by TD Bank on Tuesday.

The Odd Fellows House on Norway's Main Street has been standing vacant, not because of a lack of buyers, but because of paperwork, said civic leader Andrea Burns. 

Burns, who heads the organization Norway Downtown, said that the historical building, located at 380 Main Street, has drawn interest from two buyers, but the property's legal entanglements have made it impossible for a sale to happen.

"We would like to see that there is some future for the Odd Fellows building that is active," said Burns.

Burns said that the property is an important component of the organization's efforts to build a more vibrant Main Street.

"Norway Downtown continues to work for the vitality of Main Street," said Burns. "The community needs to see movement on the street and in the existing buildings. I think the community has patience as long as work is proceeding."

The building has been in limbo since it was seized from former owner Dawn Solomon after her arrest for Mainecare fraud in 2010.

It failed to sell at auction in March 2011, after which it was purchased by TD Bank for $89,000. In April, business owner John Miller announced that he had purchased the property, and was waiting only for the title to be cleared to finalize the sale.

At the time, Miller said that he expected the title to be cleared within two weeks.

After 10 months, the title was still not clear.

In the meantime, Miller walked away from the sale. A new potential buyer, Tony Moore of Bisco Properties, has emerged, but he said he would first have to see how and when the property would be put on the market.

Even then, said Moore, it would depend on whether a potential tenant was still willing to rent from him.

"I had a tenant in mind on the first floor," said Moore. "If that tenant was still interested, that's the only way I would move forward."

Jennifer Morneau, a spokesperson for TD Bank, said that the bank typically doesn't comment on foreclosures, but she was able to release some information.

"There was a bankruptcy filing and a bankruptcy court order which delayed the transfer of the title of the property to our bank," said Morneau. "Until we have possession of the title, we can't take any action to sell the property. That explains some of the delay."

However, said Morneau, the building can now be put back on the market.

"The title issues have recently been resolved," she said. "The management and the listing of the property will proceed according to our established procedures for dealing with such properties."

Glen Holmes, director, Western Maine Economic Development Council (WMEDC), said that he had faith that the institution would do what it could to get the property sold.

"I'm sure that TD Bank is doing everything that they can to put this property back on the market," he said.

Holmes and Burns both said that they contacted TD Bank in an effort to get forward motion on the sale. Burns also worked with the office of Congressman Mike Michaud, which she said had been helpful.