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Rebirth of landmark: Ground broken for York's Atlantic House

Local developer Don Rivers speaks during the Atlantic House Groundbreaking ceremony in York Beach on Tuesday afternoon. (Gauthier/Democrat photo)

By JESSICA GAUTHIER
Democrat Staff Writer
November 24, 2006

YORK, Maine — On a sunny and crisp November afternoon, members and supporters of the York community gathered in the heart of York Beach to celebrate the rebirth of a landmark.

The Atlantic House Team gathered in York Beach Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Atlantic House Project with the York community.
(Gauthier/Democrat photo)

The once-prominent Atlantic House, otherwise known as "Pop's Shell Shack," may look rundown now, but the historic structure will soon be refurbished, thanks to a final approval earlier this month.

"How many of us have passed by here day after day and said, 'What a shame this building is going to ruin,'" said Cathy Goodwin, president and chief executive officer of the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce.

Goodwin was among many on hand to witness the groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 21, marking the beginning of the restoration process.

"While other people passed by and said, 'What an opportunity,'" she added.

Also a founder of the York Beach Renaissance Committee, Goodwin said what began as a simple fix-up-the-sidewalk-project has turned into a revitalization of York Beach.

After four years of developing a sales contract and plan, securing the necessary number of townwide votes, attending planning board meetings, the Atlantic House Team was at last approved to begin renovating and revitalizing the renowned building.

"Thank you everybody for sticking with us," said Don Rivers, developer of the project.

At a projected cost of at least 12 million dollars, the redevelopment project is designed to have retail space on the first floor, a stylish and comfortable 230-seat restaurant and bakery run by celebrity chef Lydia Shire on the second floor, and nine luxurious resort residences on the third floor, he said. It is expected to be open by summertime.

Shire, currently the chef and co-owner of the Boston restaurant Locke-Ober, fell in love with the Atlantic House after her visit to York. But before committing to the project, she wanted to see what a whole season was like in York Beach. After spending a Labor Day weekend in York, she knew she wanted to do this.

Shire's restaurant, "Blue Sky on York Beach," will feature a wood-fire pizza oven, various lobster dishes, and prime skirt steak. The bakery will feature hot doughnuts drizzled with a maple sugar glaze.

Cathy Goodwin, President and CEO of The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, stands with local developer Don Rivers in front of the Atlantic House in York Beach Tuesday afternoon for the Atlantic House Groundbreaking ceremony. (Gauthier/Democrat photo)

"I think this is very New England," said Shire of her menu.
Before concluding the ceremony, Rivers shared how he had wanted to hand out small pieces of the building to everyone as a remembrance of the groundbreaking, but discovered they contained lead; then he saved all the windows so he could hand out pieces of the glass, but discovered they had asbestos; finally, he settled simply on champagne glasses.

Rivers has teamed up with TMS Architects, notable for their design work at the Wentworth By The Sea, to ensure that the original beauty and integrity of the building's architecture remains intact.

"We want to preserve the past as we update for the future," said Goodwin.

There will also be a second phase of the project in which the Kearsarge House, currently known as Shelton's Gifts and Gabby Sullivan's restaurant, will be converted into luxury condominiums, another fine dining, family oriented restaurant owned and run by Shire, and six gift shops; however construction for this is not scheduled to begin until the fall of 2007.