Portland, ME - New Construction Continued

[Patrick]

Developer has plan to grow Scarborough retail center
Lowe's and Wal-Mart get back on track; the project could add businesses.



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May 30, 2007



? By JOSIE HUANG
Staff Writer

Scarborough Gallery, future home of a Lowe's home improvement store and a Wal-Mart Supercenter, is hoping to build on its reputation as Maine's second-largest shopping center.

Its developer wants to add more than 90,000 square feet of retail space in a single building that would cost $40 million and house as many as five businesses. The addition would raise the cost of the project to about $170 million.

The free-standing building would be between the Lowe's store, which will open this summer, and the Wal-Mart store, which is scheduled to open a year from now.

Scarborough planning officials will see details of the latest proposal at a meeting on Monday.

"I think we can get approvals," said Ben Devine, a principal with KGI Properties LLC of Boston. "Whether we can start building before the snow flies this fall is questionable."

Scarborough Gallery, which is off Payne Road and borders Interstate 295, Mussey Road and Spring Street, also will house three or four restaurants.

Devine said Texas Roadhouse has committed to the site and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has expressed interest. McDonald's is requesting a site-plan review for a restaurant there, according to Monday's Planning Board agenda.

KGI also is in negotiations to tear down the existing Wal-Mart next door, upon completion of the Supercenter, and replace it with a $70 million shopping complex with about 15 higher-end retailers and restaurants typically seen in malls, Devine said.

Construction on the shopping center is revving up after some fits and starts.

Lowe's will miss its springtime opening because of problems with the foundation for the 165,000-square-foot building. Tons of fill dumped on the site last fall to compress the soil and stabilize it for construction kept sinking instead of settling, said Carroll Shepard, the town's code enforcement officer.

Not wanting to postpone the project further, the contractor drove pilings more than 50 feet into the ground during the spring, Shepard said.

Devine said the solution cost more than $3 million. "Everybody wanted to get this store open," he said. "It's good for Lowe's and it's good for us as we market the rest of the center."

Soil problems have also plagued Wal-Mart, which was once scheduled to open this summer. Contractors working on the 212,000-square-foot store have been preparing the foundation for more than a year, Shephard said.

At least one engineer has said the site is ready, Shephard said, and Wal-Mart representatives will meet with him today to seek building permits.

The delays in the project, second only to the Maine Mall in size, had members of Scarborough's business community asking questions, said Kevin Freeman, president of the Scarborough Community Chamber.

"People were wondering exactly what was going on. We'd heard in the wind there were some challenges on the site," said Freeman, who is a business director for the Pizzagalli construction company.

He said everybody is happy to see the project back on track because of how much it will contribute to the town's tax base.

 

[Patrick]

Thanks for the pictorial update, cneal. pearl street apartments are a needed addition.

 

[grittys457]

Too lazy to cut and copy right now. Go to thebollard.com
There are two new articles. One on how Waterview hopes to break fall in the fall which we heard. Another is the dispute between Anderson and Portland Pie and how he wants to kick them out. He wants to build a 7 story building between that and Boru. Also talks on how he is looking to put four buildings on the rest of that big parking lot along with two floors of underground parking. Up to 12 stories high on one of the buildings.

Commercial st extension has been paved. They have the water/sewer concrete thingie fenced off in the Riverwalk project. They must be doing that first. The paper said today that the Fore St Marriot hotel should break ground in September.

 

[Patrick]

 

[SHAZBAT73]

Thanks for the update ! What is the last one of? I counted 6 stories...

 

[Patrick]

Thanks for the update ! What is the last one of? I counted 6 stories...

That building is one part of the new Mercy hospital complex. It is being built along the fore river, behind union station plaza, and has a wide 4-story medical office building right next to it (not shown). The area was previously wooded, and inaccessible, but they made a connector road between congress and commercial.

 

[S-Roll]

For Westbrook park plan, cleanup takes first priority
A four-story building with retail, office and residential space is the leading contender for Saccarappa Park.


By ANN S. KIM Staff Writer

July 2, 2007




City officials are hoping the redevelopment
of Saccarappa Park can begin in the spring, after cleanup of
contaminated parts of the downtown property and the possible
relocation of a sewer line.

Westbrook has been trying to redevelop the 1.2-acre parcel
between Main Street and the Presumpscot River for several
years. The property's location makes it key to downtown
revitalization efforts.

Mayor Bruce Chuluda said the redevelopment has not moved
along as quickly as he had hoped, and that the property has
turned out to be challenging.

"I'm confident at some point in time, something good will
happen to that parcel," he said. "It's just taking some effort and
work and creativeness and a whole bunch of different things."

The city hasn't officially signed off on a redevelopment project,
but a four-story building that combines retail, office and
residential space has emerged as the leading contender. It is a
plan that Flannery Properties of Westbrook modified last year
after another project fell through because its developer was
unable to secure financing.

A committee consisting of members of the City Council and the
Planning Board and city staffers has yet to make its official
recommendation to the mayor, who then would make his
recommendation to the full City Council. The committee has
been largely inactive in recent months while the city works on
getting the site ready.

Last month, the city was awarded a $200,000 "brownfield"
cleanup grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The back portion of the property was contaminated by a foundry
and a mill, said Erik Carson, the city's economic and community
development director.

A sewer line poses another challenge to the overall goal of
developing about 60 percent of the property and turning the
rest into open space. The sewer line runs through the property
parallel to Main Street, roughly halfway between the road and
the river.

Carson said the city may ask the Portland Water District for
permission to move the sewer line. Generally, relocation paid for
by a municipality or developer is allowed if there's a feasible way
to do it, said Michelle Clements, a water district spokeswoman.

It's not known yet how much these projects would cost, but
Carson guessed it could be as much as $700,000. The city could
loan itself some money from its brownfield revolving loan fund,
he said.

The city has been considering Saccarappa Park for
redevelopment since at least 2003. That year, a proposal from a
development team that included former Mayor Kenneth Lefebvre
prompted a contentious debate and was withdrawn. The plan
envisioned a four-story building with office and retail space and
a restaurant in a separate building.

In 2005, a city committee rejected the two proposals put
forward in response to a request for proposals. One proposed a
four-story building with retail and medical office space and
condominiums. The other ignored the city's goal of developing
60 percent of the property by proposing to buy the property for
$1,000 and returning it to the city on the condition that it
remain a park for at least 100 years.

Last year, the city discussed its goals with four developers rather
than putting out a request for proposals. That effort yielded the
modified Flannery Properties plan still under consideration

 

[M. Brown]

I went up to Portland Today for a day trip...and to grab some Popeye's on the way . You all are so lucky to have a gem of a city like that. I didn't take any pics because it was raining outside unfortunately. Your downtown is dense, there are people walking the streets and there are licenses plates from states across the country.

There was a lot of road construction on the road behind congress st. Whats going on there? Also I think I saw some construction near USM. I think it was USM at least. Also waterview at bayside has GOT to be built. I found myself driving around this dense city and found the ugly grass patch in the middle.

I just might head back up to portland later this week if I am bored enough. And oh yeah...SALES TAX SUCKS!!!

 

[SHAZBAT73]

Any construction updates from around P-town lately? Any word on the status of Graves Hill and Waterview?

 

[Patrick]

Any construction updates from around P-town lately? Any word on the status of Graves Hill and Waterview?

The condo project on the falmouth line still has not broken ground, but the signs are up. should be two nine story towers.

Waterview starts construction soon.

an 8-story condo building on cumberland ave was completed recently.

a ten stoy office building is under construction on Marginal way.

Mercy hospital is completing phase one, Maine Med's parking garage is nearing completion.

many minor projects.

 

[M. Brown]

Any construction updates from around P-town lately? Any word on the status of Graves Hill and Waterview?

The condo project on the falmouth line still has not broken ground, but the signs are up. should be two nine story towers.

Waterview starts construction soon.

an 8-story condo building on cumberland ave was completed recently.

a ten stoy office building is under construction on Marginal way.

Mercy hospital is completing phase one, Maine Med's parking garage is nearing completion.

many minor projects.

Has Waterview been confirmed?

 

[Patrick]

Any construction updates from around P-town lately? Any word on the status of Graves Hill and Waterview?

The condo project on the falmouth line still has not broken ground, but the signs are up. should be two nine story towers.

Waterview starts construction soon.

an 8-story condo building on cumberland ave was completed recently.

a ten stoy office building is under construction on Marginal way.

Mercy hospital is completing phase one, Maine Med's parking garage is nearing completion.

many minor projects.

Has Waterview been confirmed?

Yep.

 

[Patrick]

other than Portland, Scarborough seems to be the fastest growing town in Maine.

right now there is:

Scarborough Gallery, a retail development including a new Lowes, super wal mart, and new mini mall (12-15 mall-type stores)

next door is a new 5 story marriot hotel

next to that is a new 4 story office building, which is really wide

the street in front of all of this development has been widened to about five lanes in each direction

dunstan crossing is under construction and is a residential development of close to three hundred houses

the gateway at scarborough is being developed with a Caballas as a major piece, along with at least one hotel, and a few restaurants and smaller offices

http://www.sedco.scarborough.me.us/

 

[portlandneedsnewarena]

other than Portland, Scarborough seems to be the fastest growing town in Maine.

right now there is:

Scarborough Gallery, a retail development including a new Lowes, super wal mart, and new mini mall (12-15 mall-type stores)

next door is a new 5 story marriot hotel

next to that is a new 4 story office building, which is really wide

the street in front of all of this development has been widened to about five lanes in each direction

dunstan crossing is under construction and is a residential development of close to three hundred houses

the gateway at scarborough is being developed with a Caballas as a major piece, along with at least one hotel, and a few restaurants and smaller offices


The wide 4 story building next to the new Marriott Courtyard is actually another hotel. I am told it's a Homewood Suites. I originally thought it was an office building too. They started putting the wooden gable roof trusses on it yesterday.
On Route 1 in Scarborough they started clearing for a new Comfort Inn. Also, down the road from that is a new Condo/Office Space project that is moving along pretty fast.
Then up the road near Oak Hill is the Bessey Commons project and the proposed Bessey Square project. Near that area the former Orion Center space is supposed to be developed into a large Grocery Store along w/ retail space and a restaurant or two.
Yes, alot going on in Scarborough.

http://www.sedco.scarborough.me.us/

 

[Patrick]

Revised hotel, condos planned for Jordan?s
By Kate Bucklin (published: August 02, 2007)
PORTLAND ? The development group that first proposed a luxury Westin hotel and condominiums for the former Jordan?s Meats plant has submitted a new, more modest proposal for the eastern waterfront property.

PME 1 Limited Partnership still wants to build a hotel, condominiums and retail space at 38 India St., but is now proposing a Starwood Element hotel with fewer rooms than the $110 million, 224-room hotel originally proposed for the Westin project.

According to plans submitted to the city by Daniel Riley of Sebago Technics, the Element hotel would have 162 rooms with limited services, aimed at the extended-stay market. It could be a direct competitor for a Marriott Residence Inn planned nearby on Fore Street.

Starwood introduced its Westin-derived Element hotel brand last fall, and is expected to open the first one next year in Lexington, Mass. According to the hospitality industry Web site Hotel Online, Element hotel construction costs are expected to hit an industry average of about $120,000 per room. That would make the cost of the hotel proposed in Portland about $20 million.

The 6,000-square-foot ballroom and banquet facility originally proposed would be replaced by a 500-square-foot meeting room. The eight-story hotel would run along Middle Street and part of India Street.

?Changes in the building program were necessitated by construction costs and market conditions,? Riley said in the application to the city.

The condominium component has also been scaled back, from 116 units to 49, and a limited number of ?hotelominiums? are no longer in the proposal. Prices for the condos, which originally ranged from $500,000 to $5 million, were not included in the application.

The eight-story condominium tower is connected to the hotel by a common ground floor with retail and restaurant space, exercise facilities, a pool and hotel lobby. Plans include more than 15,000 square feet of retail space and almost 7,000 square feet for restaurants.

Two stories of underground parking are proposed, but PME ? led by the Procaccianti Group of Rhode Island ? is requesting tax increment financing for the planned 161 spaces. According to the application, if a TIF is not granted, the developer would lease off-site parking.

Ralph Izzi, a spokesman for Procaccianti could not be reached immediately Tuesday for comment.

The new development sits on just a portion of the Jordan?s property, leaving much of the parcel along Franklin Street for future development. The developer may landscape the undeveloped portion ? currently a parking lot ? or could use it for parking.

A large pedestrian plaza is planned through the lot as a visual extension of Hampshire Street. The plaza replaces the originally planned hotel entrance and lobby. On-street drop-off for guests is proposed for the revised project.

The developer received conditional rezoning in December 2005 for the original proposal. Procaccianti is again requesting height and setback leniency.

Building materials include brick, stucco and painted metal. The Middle Street elevation for the hotel is shown at 114 feet, while the Fore Street elevation is shown in a sketch of the building as 138 feet.

No one with the city Planning Department could be reached for comment. Planner Bill Needelman, division Director Alex Jaegerman and department Director Lee Urban are on vacation this week.

Part of the property, which sits between Franklin Arterial and Middle, Fore and India streets, was listed for sale earlier this year by CB Richard Ellis and Procaccianti was reportedly considering building an office structure along Franklin Arterial and part of Fore Street.

 

[Patrick]

Innovative condos proposed for city corner
By Kate Bucklin (published: August 02, 2007)
PORTLAND ? Shared cars, green design and common spaces are included in developer Peter Bass? newest housing proposal.

Bass, of the development company Random Orbit, submitted plans to the city recently for a four-story condominium at the northeast corner of High and Danforth streets. The project is a result of a city request last year for housing proposals. Random Orbit was one of three applicants and was eventually selected by the City Council in November.

The 27-unit building would include small units at lower-than-average cost for a peninsula home. Bass said he is targeting young, professional, single, first-time buyers. In a letter to the Planning Department, he said the design is ?progressive, innovative development that combines density, small unit size and common amenities.?

The project will need a contract zone, because Bass is asking for a greater density than currently allowed and a reduction in the number of parking spaces required.

?Someone living here could easily get by with limited need for a car,? he said in the description of the project.

Units would range from 480 square feet to 777 square feet. Twenty-one of them would be 480 square feet and cost about $125,000. The largest unit is estimated to cost about $185,000, although Bass warned the prices are based on the 2006 market.

Residents of the building would have access to two shared vehicles, a concept that has become popular in larger cities with the introduction of Zipcar, Flexcar, I-go and others. Two of the 16 proposed parking spots would be reserved for the shared cars. The remaining spots would be sold to residents for an additional $10,000.

Besides cars, residents on each of the three residential floors would share laundry facilities, guest rooms and a lounge. Random Orbit is also proposing a rooftop deck.

The building, designed by local architect David Lloyd, will make ?a contemporary statement? while still fitting in with the historic neighborhood, according to Bass. He said he is committed to an environmentally sensitive design, which he says will lead to lower operating and energy costs.

Bass most recently redeveloped the former Sacred Heart School in Parkside into live/work condos for artists. People hoping to live there must go through an application process; if selected, they benefit from a complex affordable housing scheme that allows unit prices to stay low for perpetuity.

The developer is also responsible for the East Bayside condos on Anderson Street and conversion of an old mill in Saco into 34 live/work condos.

The High and Danforth street project is expected before the Planning Board later this summer for a workshop session.

 

[SHAZBAT73]

I read in the City of Portland website that the Cohen is having a hard time coughing up the money to pay back Portland for the house removal. So it seems like things there are still grinding along. It's too bad they are downsizing the proposal at Jordan's.

 

[grittys457]

It's smaller but it's still a big project. This is only taking up half the lot. The other half might become offices by somebody else or they might add to it. Another article on Jordan's is in the paper today.

I see that the Commercial St extension is all paved and lined. It's cut of to the public for now.

 

[Patrick]

yeah, actually its a bigger project. Nowhere near as luxurious, but its taller.

 

[Patrick]

What's being built on outer congress near stroudwater?