#hutchinson-center

Appellants say they offered $1.9 million in value to UMaine, while church offered $1 million
Appeals, protests filed with UMaine over decision to sell former Belfast campus to church
Tue, 08/20/2024 - 8:30am

BELFAST — A group of Midcoast residents organized as the Future of the Hutchinson Center Steering Committee/Waterfall Arts (FHC-WA) are protesting the Aug. 14 decision by the University of Maine to award the Calvary Chapel Belfast the opportunity to buy the Hutchinson Center campus in Belfast. Waldo Community Action Partners (Waldo CAP) has submitted a separate appeal. FHC-WA submitted an appeal in writing, meeting the Aug. 21 deadline set by the university for all appeals. In their appeal,...
‘We are going to use that building to serve God and people’
UPDATE: University of Maine chooses Calvary Chapel Belfast to be new owners of Hutchinson Center
Wed, 08/14/2024 - 8:30pm

BELFAST — A letter was sent just before 6 p.m. Aug. 14 to at least one organization that was bidding on ownership of the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, informing it that the award was going to a competitive bidder, the Calvary Chapel Belfast, a church currently located at 189 Lincolnville Ave, in Belfast. This story was update Aug. 15 to include a statement from the Calgary Chapel Belfast, and it include a media copy of its purchase proposal ( attached as a PDF) It...
UMaine trustees authorize Hutchinson Center sale, to identify buyer in the coming weeks
Mon, 07/15/2024 - 3:00pm

At their regular meeting July 15 in Orono, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees voted unanimously to allow the University of Maine to sell the Frederick Hutchinson Center in Belfast, according to a UMaine announcement. The Center closed last August after 23 years of educational service to the Midcoast. The Hutchinson Center, the “Hutch”, as it is sometimes called, was named for, University of Maine President Emeritus Frederick E. Hutchinson . With the Trustees’...
opinion
Sharing the vision of a vibrant future for the Hutchinson Center
Wed, 02/07/2024 - 10:45am

Nearly two decades ago, the Frederick Hutchinson Center (FHC) in Belfast was generously gifted to the University of Maine by the Bank of America following its purchase of the building from MBNA and UMaine’s six years of programming there. It has served the community well, thanks to student enrollment, many generous donors and more than $14 million invested directly by the university into its infrastructure. But times change. Before the pandemic, more than 300 students took courses each year,...
Future of the Hutchinson Center Steering Committee submits proposal to UMaine
Wed, 02/07/2024 - 10:30am

On Feb. 5, the Belfast-based Future of the Hutchinson Center Steering Committee submitted a proposal to the University of Maine in response to UMaine’s Request for Proposals. UMaine issued its RFP on January 17 with a submittal deadline of Monday, February 5. On Friday, February 2, UMaine issued an addendum that delayed the submittal deadline to March 29 “in response to community feedback.” The Committee did not request that the deadline be extended, according to a news release from the...
UMaine extends request for proposals deadline for repurposing Hutchinson Center in Belfast
Fri, 02/02/2024 - 10:15pm

BELFAST — The University of Maine is extending the proposals deadline for the repurposing of the Hutchinson Center in Belfast by nearly two months. In response to community feedback, the University of Maine System will extend the deadline of its request for proposals (RFP) to March 29, allowing for additional opportunity for interested parties to submit options for sale, lease or other creative solutions. The original response deadline for the initial proposal opening was Feb. 5. After March 29...
opinion
Hutchinson Center in Belfast not a trophy traded to the highest bidder
Tue, 01/23/2024 - 1:15pm

Everyone loves a surprise, well at least most surprises. Twenty-three years ago, a welcome surprise to the Belfast and Waldo County community was the creation of the Hutchinson Center, made possible by a clear vision to bring opportunities to the local population for years and hopefully generations to come. The community enthusiastically supported the Hutchinson Center and substantial private donations, some large and many small allowed for the vision to flourish. Phase One of the Hutchinson...
Sen. Curry submits bill to transfer Hutchinson Center ownership to City of Belfast
Mon, 01/22/2024 - 2:00pm

Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast, has submitted legislation to transfer ownership of the University of Maine’s Hutchinson Center to the city of Belfast. The legislation comes in the wake of the University’s announced plan to potentially sell or lease the center. “I am disappointed it has come to this,” said Sen. Curry, in a Jan. 22 news release. “The Hutchinson Center was gifted by and for the people of the Midcoast and should not be sold off to shore up the University of Maine’s balance sheet. When...
Will submit proposal to UMaine
Belfast citizen committee proposes retaining Hutchinson Center as a community, educational, cultural resource
Thu, 01/18/2024 - 11:15pm

BELFAST — A committee of citizens with longtime ties to the Hutchinson Center, an educational campus in Belfast built with philanthropic dollars, hopes to convince the University of Maine to pass ownership to a new nonprofit that will keep it open. “We are hoping to work together in some way so that the property can be transferred to a community organization that will manage it in the manner in which it was intended to provide education, cultural and community events,” said Belfast resident...
UMaine issues a request for proposals for its Belfast Hutchinson Center property
Wed, 01/17/2024 - 8:30am

BELFAST – Last summer, the University of Maine, based on its Orono campus, abruptly announced that it was closing the Belfast Hutchinson Center, a higher learning campus. Now, UMaine is circulating a request for proposals for repurposing the Center. The 16,675-square-foot facility was constructed in 2000 and acquired by the university in 2006. In 2007, the university constructed an additional 13,841-square-foot wing. The university closed operations of the center in August...
listening to the public's thoughts on the Center’s history and future
Future of Hutchinson Center steering committee to hold meeting Aug. 30
Tue, 08/29/2023 - 7:45pm

BELFAST — The Future of the Hutchinson Center steering committee meets Wednesday, August 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Belfast Free Library, to hear the current status of the Center and consider how the public can be a part of visioning the future Belfast Hutchinson Center. “For 23 years the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast has been a beacon of opportunity, culture, education, aspirations, and community,” said the committee, in a news release. “Belfast area residents earned...
opinion
Plan to close and sell Belfast Hutchinson Center is act of bad faith by University
Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:45am

What is deeply flawed with the recent announcement by the University of Maine? Just 23 years after a visionary gift to Belfast, Maine, and the University of Maine the primary beneficiary of the gift announced the University of Maine Hutchinson Center would be closed and sold. To understand why the closing and proposed sale of the University Maine Hutchinson Center has caused so much upset for Belfast and area residents, one must understand the history of the Hutchinson Center and the personal...
In cost-cutting move, UMaine’s Hutchinson Center in Belfast to close as of Aug. 5
Thu, 06/15/2023 - 12:15pm

BELFAST — For 23 years, the Hutchinson Center has served as UMaine’s Midcoast education and cultural post. As of Aug. 5, it will cease programming. “The University of Maine is examining options for the future of the Hutchinson Center property,” said Meredith Whitfield, UMaine’s chief marketing and communication officer. “To reduce costs during this period of due diligence no further programming will occur at the facility as of August 5. The university remains committed to...