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Commemorative bricks pave way at Atlantic House

By rob levey
yorkweekly@seacoastonline.com
September 12, 2007

YORK BEACH — It may not be the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but for all of the people named on the 1,360 bricks laid in front of the Atlantic House, the fame's the same.

The sidewalk project is complete, although people will not be able to walk on it for about a month, according to John Destefano of Destefano & Associates, Inc.

"All the bricks are in. We completed it last Wednesday," said Destefano, who said the sidewalk is still part of the construction site at the Atlantic House, which necessitates the delay in people being able to walk on it.

The commemorative bricks, which were bought at $25 per brick, were placed on a sidewalk that begins on Main Street, curls around the Atlantic House and ends at Beach Street.

Originally started by the Chamber of Commerce, the brick project is being overseen by the York Beach Renaissance Committee.

"It's an ad hoc committee and not established by the town," said Goodwin, the committee's founder. "We are a group trying to coordinate a number of renovations in the York Beach Short Sands area."

Long-term committee projects include moving electricity behind the buildings in the downtown section, putting in new street lights, and championing various zoning ordinance issues within the York Beach historic village center.

Many of the projects, Goodwin said, are part of an original plan developed by Town Planner Steve Burns close to four years ago, but not acted upon.

"We adopted what was already there and expanded it," said Goodwin.

As for the holdup in the sidewalk project, Goodwin said equipment and various supplies were in the way at the Atlantic House job site.

"The sidewalk (was) the last thing that needed to be done," she said, "so we simply had to wait."

Goodwin said a sidewalk dedication will take place sometime around Harvestfest in October.

For information about the dedication or The York Beach Renaissance Committee and its mission, call (207)363-4422, or visit www.gatewaytomaine.org/about_us/renaissance.htm.