{"id":13539,"date":"2017-07-20T19:55:36","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T23:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=13539"},"modified":"2017-07-20T19:55:36","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T23:55:36","slug":"jailhouse-rocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/jailhouse-rocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Jailhouse Rocks!"},"content":{"rendered":"

July\/August 2017 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Built in 1869<\/strong>, the historic York County<\/strong> Jail <\/strong>is for sale. Again. <\/span><\/h3>\n

From Staff & Wire Reports<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"JA17-Jailhouse-Rocks\"The Shawshank Redemption<\/em> was shot in Ohio. But it could have been filmed right here at home in Maine.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cells are here, iron doors clanging into eternity. There\u2019s even a quarters for the warden\u2019s family, just like in the Stephen King movie, with wallpaper and polished ash floors. Sure, it\u2019s not open-concept. But all roads lead to your purchasing the former York County Jail <\/strong>in the town of Alfred, York\u2019s county seat, at 8 Court Street on Route 111.<\/p>\n

The asking price is $250,000, or roughly ten times what the seller, Michael Kaplan of Kaplan 8 LLC, paid for it in 2001 as part of a bidding process conducted by the town.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were ladies\u2019 cells\u201d as well as men\u2019s, \u201con the second floor at the end. <\/span>That\u2019s why the doors are solid,\u201d Kaplan says. \u201cThere was a revolt in the prison\u201d that signalled the end of its service to the county.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then, it\u2019s slowly deteriorated, though its septic system is still capable of handling 2,100 gallons a day. Kaplan has made cosmetic, heating-system, and electrical improvements to the lower level facing Route 111 and had some tenants here over the years, but no one\u2019s here just now. He loves the building and has entertained countless dreams from possible purchasers, beyond his own, because many prospects just like to try the place on.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDunkin\u2019 Donuts looked at the land (over three acres), but the town wouldn\u2019t agree to its having a drive-through,\u201d he says. Other dreams, some of which have involved tenants, include \u201cboatbuilders, a distressed sign company, Jailhouse Antiques, a photo studio, law offices, restaurants, a gift shop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

People have been offering Kaplan ideas \u201cforever. Longer than that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You could \u201cremove the cells\u201d if you like. \u201cAbove are beautiful arched windows. All the light, morning or afternoon, would flow in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This jail has good bones. \u201cAll of these pieces of granite\u201d are priceless. <\/span><\/p>\n

During the summer, it\u2019s easy to imagine a craft brewery taking over the building. Slammer Glamour. Iron Clang. Shawshank Lager. Better still, what a film school this place would make, with a film festival. At night, the sound of crickets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked if he\u2019s motivated, Kaplan replies, \u201cWicked.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $2,728.52<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

July\/August 2017
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