The historic but run-down Portsmouth Navy Yard prison may once again be up for commercial lease.
Dating back to 1908, it’s known as the Castle.
And during more than 60 years of use, it’s held tens of thousands of prisoners.
But the building that looms over all others in the shipyard has been empty for decades.
And the Navy wants to find a use for it.
NHPR Correspondent Roger Wood reports.
The Prison, is located in Kittery, Maine, just across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth.
If you’ve never seen the Castle, it was used as a location for the 1973 film, “The Last Detail”.
Not long after the movie was shot, the Navy closed the prison and it’s been sitting derelict since then.
The Navy’s launched an initiative to lease it in 1999.
But that effort fell apart as security concerns grew after the 9-11 terrorist attacks and the death of the potential developer, Joseph Sawtelle.
Now, the Navy plans to re-introduce the leasing process.
And David Kelly, deputy commander for base operations, says the yards vision is to derive some economic benefit from an unused building.
“We sort of win two ways. The developer takes care of the building for us so the taxpayer does not. Then in turn the revenue from the lease allows us to do more maintenance on the shipyard.”
But Kelly admits that tightened security since 2001 is still a factor in any leasing plans.
(Kelly) :10
“As we move through the leasing process, we will absolutely take security into account for any proposed use.”
But Kelly says he’s confident that the yard management can make the proposal work.
Currently, only shipyard workers are allowed onto the base.
That’s a major factor for at least one developer in the area.
David Choate is with Grub and Ellis Coldstream in Portsmouth.
(Choate 1) :17
“That was one of the turnoffs for potential tenants, yeah you might be able as a regular employee, to come and go somewhat at will , but if you have visitors, getting them from the front gate to your office could be not worth the hassle when there are other office alternatives in the Seacoast. “
Choate says that the building would also be expensive to renovate.
In the first attempt at leasing the building 9 years ago, the developer found no tenants interested in office space there.
Deputy Portsmouth City Manager Cindy Hayden says that she hasn’t seen any details of the proposal yet.
But she says if the building is renovated, it could have a positive effect on the area’s economy.
(Hayden) :07
“There’s the prospect of jobs for local residents over there. Prospect for additional customers for our local businesses.”
The Navy plans to explain the Federal process to developers and prospective tenants in mid-April at a forum at the New England Center in Durham..
Developer David Choate says he thinks that the forum may attract many “tire kickers,” as he put it.
But he adds that both security and renovation costs may prove major obstacles to this latest initiative.
For NHPR News, this is Roger Wood.
