BELGRADE LAKES– The Maine Lakes Resource Center has hired a local contractor to raze a section of a former marina building on Mill Stream that houses the post office.

Ronald Bellavance, owner of Bellavance Construction in Belgrade Lakes, will tear down part of the building at 171 Main St. The project is estimated to cost $20,000.

Thayer Engineering Company, hired to prepare the project description, had previously estimated construction would begin in December and the bulk of the project would be completed by last month.

But that estimate was off by about one month, according to Gail Rizzo, the center’s spokesperson.

Rizzo couldn’t give an official date when the work would be completed.

“We’re not real sure when it will be done,” Rizzo said Wednesday. “Right now, Ron’s getting it ready. The electrical has to be taken off the building and he’s coordinating that with Central Maine Power. I would say a couple of weeks. I don’t have an exact date. It may actually take longer than that. It could be another month.”

Rizzo said construction will not interfere with business at the post office.

After that section is demolished, a wall will be built to enclose the exposed side of the remaining building, and exposed soil graded and stabilized temporarily until permanent measures can be applied in the spring.

The garage-like portion to be removed was most recently home to a gift shop. The remaining building, connected by a small breezeway, will continue to house the post office.

Kathi Wall, the center’s executive director, said the vacant lot, which will remain a grassy space, will give people an open view of the Mill Stream, which connects Great Pond and Long Pond and flows over a dam on Main Street, also Route 27.

She said people also will have better access to public docks behind the building.

The resource center moved into its new home up the street last summer.

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

mcooper@centralmaine.com

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