PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The vacant Crow’s Nest restaurant in Presque Isle is set to be converted into multi-purpose educational, events and business space starting this spring.
Local investor Dana Cassidy, owner of the building, and events planner Jackie Hughes are teaming up to turn the property into “Hillpointe Crossing,” with a 10,000 square foot event center. Space also will be prepared for a Montessori-style child care center and business offices.
“Dana and I have been collaborating for over a year and trying to come up with something to sustain the building and be a benefit to the community,” said Hughes, who will be directing the project and also run the Dreams Come True Event Planning business.
“We realized that good quality child care is desperately needed in this area. There are good child care centers but they’re full and have long waiting list,” said Hughes, who has also worked in child care.
Hughes said the event space will be named the Stone Ridge Event Center while the daycare will be called Planet Recess Educational Center.
The educational center is licensed for just under 100 children, ages 6 weeks to elementary school age, with daycare, after-school and summer programs, Hughes said.
She said the daycare will be using a “Montessori approach” with curriculum based around art, literacy and physical activity. “Our slogan is: Where learning is a world of fun and adventure.”
Remaining area in the building will be rented as office space, Hughes said.
They’re currently lining up renovations and finalizing permits from various government agencies, Hughes said.
“We’re hoping to be open mid-May,” she said.
Part of the renovations also involves repairing damage caused by vandalism several months ago.
In October 2016, five youngsters aged 13 to 16 were charged with aggravated criminal mischief and burglary for allegedly breaking into and vandalizing the building and causing more than $200,000 in damage. The teens allegedly broke interior glass and chandeliers and damaged walls and other parts of the building.
Cassidy has owned the building and tried to market it for office space since 2013, when the Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Event Center closed after three years in operation. The building originally opened in 2004 as Slopes Northern Maine Restaurant and Brewing Co.
