Will Maine ever be built up? (club, bus, trailer)

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Governor Percival Baxter took care of that when he bought up the land around Mt. Katahdin and gave it to the people of Maine. That's enough.

[Maine Writer]

Land is being set aside for conservation. That's good, but it's not all good. When we were fishing on Pocomoonshine I pointed out a ridge in the distance and said it would be a perfect place for a wind farm. My husband agreed but explained that it can't be developed in any way. What might have been extremely beneficial 10 years from now was blocked 10 years ago. There isnt' always enough thought put into the future when planning for the future.

I'm enjoying one of the benefits of land that was timber harvested three years ago - the best blackberries I've ever eaten. As soon as another batch of berries drain they're going to be jelly. The moose and deer have walked all over that piece of land, as evidenced by their tracks. They're eating the saplings now and will continue in the winter. The bears are fattening up on the blackberries that wouldn't be growing there if the land hadn't been harvested. It's nice to think about undisturbed land but there are benefits to man and beast when land is responsibly used.

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Maineah

We just got back from the Finger Lakes region of Western New York state. That area is much more rural than most of Maine. Farms everywhere. Corn, sunflowers , alfalfa, and soy beans all over the place. New wind farms atop the large hills. I counted 40 huge new wind mills being erected in one area. Beautiful long lakes with 115 small independent wineries all around them. Small cities about the size of Brunswick scattered around the edges of the lakes. The whole area is very much like Aroostook county on a larger scale.
The area is stunningly beautiful. The real estate prices are virtually half that of comparible properties in Maine. I'm sure the taxes are higher but you'll spend much less on heating (all natural gas) and that could make a difference. Great restaurants, superb wine,very friendly people who love Mainers for some reason. We met several Maine people who had moved to the area and just loved it. My DW and I both agreed we could live there in a heartbeat. We're already planning another vacation to the area next year!
Maine holds absolutely no edge in appeal over the Finger Lakes region! I highly recommend you look in to the area.

My wife's father was born in Wayne. Full Seneca bloodline. I tend to agree, the entire area is not only gorgeous, but developmentally friendly. Maine could take a few lessons.

[entyss]

JJBradley, I agree. On the main road in my small town in Southern Maine (it's roughly 5 miles from end to end) 3 new subdivisions have been started in the last 3 years. Beautiful wooded land bought up by contractors and building houses on spec. Makes me sick. All sold to them by local owners. In fact, one of our town council members bought a huge wooded lot, knocked down all the trees, and built her own mcmansion.
So I wouldn't expect her to enact any new zoning laws, or put some building restrictions in place.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Land that is enjoyed today may not be around tomorrow.

Good point.

Land is like water.

Once it is used, it is gone. It leaves the universe and is no longer to be found. Gone!

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

When I worked in Canada I used to fly from Toronto to Frederickton since Bangor had no flights to Canada. When we flew across the border from Quebec into Maine near the St. John River on a clear night, people would say, "Oh look. We're over the ocean" because there were suddenly no lights on the ground. Then suddenly there would be one cluster of lights like an island. That is Millinocket. From there to the New Brunswick border there is another sea of darkness at night. Then it's suburbia again.

Ninety percent of all Canadians live within 100 miles of our border. They are all piled up as far south as they can get. When I used to drive from Cochrane to Kapuskasing, Ontario I would hit "Seek" on the rental car radio and the radio would just scroll round and round with not stations on either AM or FM. Late at night you could get WWVA or WBZ from the US.

Now you can often hit "Seek" in Northern Maine on AM and the radio goes round and round. With no advertisers a radio station will not stay in business very long. Yes; We're at the end of the road in many people's minds. However, we are at the beginning of the road for Canadians. It is foolish to neglect that market and our neighbors.

Correctamundo! Maine is relatively isolated because it is the end of the line for New England, which makes the transportation infrastructure more important. We seem to neglect our largest trading partner up North.

There are a lot more isolated places to live, mostly out west. I had a cousin that lived in someplace around Cornhole Kansas, for years. I think it was a 60 mile drive for bread and milk!

In Maine, you are not usually far from the basics no matter where you settle.

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

God, I do hope that Maine has zoning laws in place protecting its open space. If not, they should look to Portland, Oregon as an example. I do know of many people who are starting to visit Maine regularly and many mention moving there in the future.

!!!!!!!!

[Craigster]

I have to tell you that I too am living your dream in Aroostook County with a farmhouse. You don't have to heat your home with oil (see Pellet Furnace thread) because there are several feasible alternatives. I'm secluded yet only a few miles from Presque Isle for shopping, hospitals, dining and the like. My taxes a very reasonable and the excise tax on my new car hasn't broke me yet. Like I mentioned to another writer, come and visit for awhile and see for yourself. It is truely great and I have lived in many states for comparrison. Can't say it is for everyone though.

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

God, I do hope that Maine has zoning laws in place protecting its open space. If not, they should look to Portland, Oregon as an example. I do know of many people who are starting to visit Maine regularly and many mention moving there in the future.

Portland's laws border on insane, just like Boulder. As soon as those laws start coming into existence, watch out for housing costs to skyrocket. The cost of living here in Boulder County is fast becoming a detriment to common people who don't have 6-figure incomes, fat retirment plans, or trust funds (I have none of these).

As for people 'visiting Maine and mentioning moving there', versus actually doing it, remains to be seen. It ain't for everybody...vacationing in Maine and living in Maine are not the same. Know anybody who takes a 'Mainecation' in the dead of Winter (besides a ski trip to Sugarloaf)?

[mainebrokerman]

[quote=Shuffler;5148848]Portland's laws border on insane, just like Boulder. As soon as those laws start coming into existence, watch out for housing costs to skyrocket. The cost of living here in Boulder County is fast becoming a detriment to common people who don't have 6-figure incomes, fat retirment plans, or trust funds (I have none of these).

As for people 'visiting Maine and mentioning moving there', versus actually doing it, remains to be seen. It ain't for everybody...vacationing in Maine and living in Maine are not the same. Know anybody who takes a 'Mainecation' in the dead of Winter (besides a ski trip to Sugarloaf)?

[/QUOTE\


im sure there are thousands of folks that come up on vacation in the wintertime, and not just to sugarloaf, in fact, in the area usually with the most snow, and worst weather, and thats up to aroostook county, snowmobiling is a huge business up there, i go up there at least one a month and have to make sure i reservea room, because many times the hotels/motels are booked full.

as for folks actually moving here compared to just vacationing here, i'll just repeat what the locals tell me,, many out of staters are buying and have bought land/properties for second homes, and primary homes (much of the younger generations move away, then come back)
ive been travelling up north for the past fifteen yrs, and always grab the real estate pamphlets, the housing/land values have considerable increased over the past 5 yrs, driven much by out of state buyers.
comparably, you can still find some cheap houses/land,,
for anyone that hasnt been to northern maine, it is awesome, big sky country, fields for miles, fresh clean air, and the people are decent.
i do travel all over the state in my job, and when retirement comes, northern maine is on the top of my list for a place to retire.