Correction: The story has been corrected to reflect that the Historic District Commission will meet June 1, but the mural project will not be on the agenda.
Plans to install a hand-painted mural on the Odd Fellows Building were sidelined after the building’s owner requested the delay.
In February, the town’s Planning and Economic Development Department issued a request for proposals for a large exterior mural on the downtown landmark, asking artists to reflect “South Berwick Through the Times: Roots to Present.”
The mural was meant to be one part of the Town’s community art program designed to integrate local and regional artwork into Town Hall and selected public spaces, including permanent art installations, rotating community art exhibitions and community murals.
It would replace the vintage Dover Auto Supply advertisement, long known to residents as “the Champion sign.”
The community art program is funded by the town’s tax increment financing (TIF) fund, with the budget for this mural capped at $25,000.
The Downtown Revitalization Committee in March reviewed three submissions from local artists and recommended awarding the project to Erica Sedler of Durham, Maine, who grew up on Sewall Road in South Berwick. A recommendation from the Historic District Commission was the next step.
This week Assistant Town Manager Jennifer Janelle told the Town Council that building owner Jim Flynn “doesn’t feel comfortable moving forward” and that discussion of the mural has been eliminated from the June 1 Historic District Commission meeting agenda. “He changed his mind about the mural,” she told the South Berwick Reporter later.
Councilor Sam Flinkstrom questioned whether Flynn understood the funding would not come from the municipal budget. Janelle said she had communicated to him that the project was TIF-funded.
“I think we should send a letter to the artists who probably spent a significant amount of time putting together their proposal, and I’d like to give a tip of the hat to them,” Councilor Paul Schumacher suggested.
Sedler said she was disappointed, but optimistic. “I understand that things happen and that’s just the way it goes.” she said on learning of the decision. “I hope it comes to life next year.”
