Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 N OV E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 SMALL AND LARGE, PROJECTS ARE STILL IN THE WORKS Despite initial fears about how the construction industry would be affected by higher interest rates and continued issues with materials pricing and the labor shortage, groundbreakings are continuing at a strong pace in Maine. The Downs broke ground on phase 1 of the $130 million Town Center, which will include commercial and retail space, boutiques, restaurants and mixed-use hous- ing. It will also include sidewalks, trails and a central greenspace. About 2 million square feet of commercial space is planned. The first phase of the Town Center will be completed in 2025. At full build- out, the entire project is estimated to create over $615 million in new value. It is expected to create 3,000 jobs. Since 2018, the Downs has developed 500 units of housing of all kinds, as well as an Innovation District office-and-industrial complex. A Costco is set to open later this year. Allagash Brewing will have a tasting room, slated to open in late 2024. In Madison, the development team of Sam Hight, Kara Wilbur and Brian Eng broke ground Oct. 20 on an affordable housing project at 55 Weston Ave., with 36 units. The project, 55 Weston Avenue LLC, is being developed in partnership with the town of Madison, MaineHousing and the state of Maine. KITTERY PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING Two town-owned properties in Kittery will be turned into affordable housing with a $210,000 EPA grant from Southern Maine Planning and Development Commis- sion. The properties are located at 42-44 Old Post Road. One lot is a dilapidated house while next door there's a former commercial mechanic's garage. Once the sites are cleaned up, the town will transfer the properties to Kittery-based non- profit, Fair Tide, which will build the affordable housing. AT THE FINISH LINE In Yarmouth, D.F. Pray General Contrac- tors, of Seekonk, Mass., is putting the final touches on a stand-alone Chase branch, newly constructed in the Han- naford Plaza shopping center. Signs are up and the drive-thru has been paved. In Woolwich, Ben Davis and the Even Keel family of brands opened a production and office facility at 126 US Route 1 in Wool- wich. The site will produce recycled PET plastic composite panels and the EDURA Building System. "EDURA is our flagship building product used independently and in our modular structures that benefit both our customers and the planet," Davis says. In Portland, PM Construction, of Saco, finished the 218 Washington project, which has 45 condominium units. The developer was Chris Tyll. Design was handled by Portland-based Archetype; Sebago Technics of South Por tland managed civil engineering; M2 Struc- tural Engineering, of Windham, man- aged structural engineering. Staging for show units was handled by TNS Stag- ing. Waypoint Brokers Collective is the listing broker. In Bangor, developer Dash Davidson and High Tide Capital finished the historic renovation of 27 State St. The build- ing, with 20 apartments, will be leased by Northern Light Health, which plans to house visiting doctors and nurses there. Construction was managed by Zack Pike of Pike Developers; engineer- ing was done by Steve Govoni of Went- worth Partners and Associates of Skow- hegan; design was managed by DJLU Architects, of New York City. R E N D E R I N G S / T H E D OW N S 2023_1031_MeBiz_Everybody Leads.indd 1 2023_1031_MeBiz_Everybody Leads.indd 1 10/31/23 6:52 AM 10/31/23 6:52 AM BY PETER BY PETER VAN ALLEN VAN ALLEN BUILDING BUSINESS P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N Chase branch, Yarmouth The Downs broke ground on phase 1 of the $130 million Town Center, which will include 2 million square feet of commercial space.

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