BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 2, 2022
Once considered a prime industrial area, the region along Caribou’s portion of the Aroostook River was home to potato starch factories, railroads and a massive steam and diesel power plant. With the railroad now inactive and most industrial and agricultural buildings torn down, city officials are formulating plans to redevelop the riverfront into a more prosperous spot for residents and businesses. But two historic and now dangerous properties will likely delay full redevelopment for at least a decade. Caribou acquired an old Maine Public Service power plant through unpaid taxes, but have found themselves in charge of a massive environmental mess. The hazardous materials removal will need at least $3 million, with the cleanup taking five to 10 years. Another relic, a potato starch factory that went defunct in the 1990s, sits nearby, but without city ownership, officials have far less control over its fate.