Mainebiz

V O L . X X I N O. X V I J U LY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 16 M A I N S T R E E T U N I O N S T R E E T E L M S T R E E T W I N T E R S T R E E T T I L L S O N A V E N U E E ach summer, thousands of visitors and summer residents fl ock to downtown Rockland to enjoy lobster, blues, and boat festivals, to peruse galleries and shops, to see the renowned collection of American art at the Farnsworth Art Museum, or to explore Penobscot Bay. Now, investors are pouring more than $20 million into a raft of projects that promise to make Rockland an even bigger draw for visitors and residents all year round and spark development in a corner of the working waterfront that has long been eyed for revival. Ability to evolve In addition to the infl ux of dollars and activity, the current wave of develop- ment promises to diversify the city's economy and make it less vulnerable to the fortunes of any one particular industry or company. Historically a hub for sardine canneries, seafood processing plants and limestone quar- ries, Rockland has absorbed waves of change as those industries faltered or disappeared altogether. e entire region was buoyed by investments from MBNA, starting in the early 1990s. e Delaware-based " " " Sometimes You Need to Break the Mold IT Solutions Designed for Your Business Managed Services Cloud/Virtualization Data Management Networking Security IT Consulting n n n n n n www.WGTECH.com 207.856.5300 " Need to Break the Mold Rockland projects underway Main Street Markets: A 3,000-square-foot grocery that sells organic, local and natural foods and includes a cafe opened earlier this month. It was developed by investor Richard Rockwell and his daughter Jennifer. The market is in the four-story historic Kimball Building at 435 Main St. that Rockwell bought in 2013 and has been renovating. The project is just one part of a string of investments Rockwell is making along Main Street. Dowling Walsh Gallery: The gallery owner is constructing a five-story building in back of its location at 365 Main St. It will house retail on the street level, and high-end storage and management for art on the upper floors. The $3 million project is expected to be completed in the summer 2017. The Maine Center for Contemporary Art: The 63-year-old Rockport-based institution is building a new home in Rockland, at 21 Winter St. The $3 million site is expected to open in July 2016. The Farnsworth Art Museum: The 67-year-old institution is completing a $3.75 structural upgrade to buildings on its Rockland campus, the main location at 16 Museum St. and the Wyeth Center on Union Street at Elm Street, and its Olson House in Cushing. The project includes improvements to its heating, cooling, and humidity systems, roofs, floors, windows, clapboards, and sidewalks surrounding the museum. The project is expected to be completed in September. 250 Main Street: A five-story, 26-suite upscale hotel. The developer is Cabot Lyman, owner of Lyman Morse Boatbuilding in Thomaston. The $2.9 million project is expected to open in this fall. The Rockland Harbor Inn: A 65-room boutique hotel. The developer is Stuart Smith, who also owns the Lord Camden and Grand Harbor Inns in Camden. The $6.5 million project, planned for 12 Water St., will include a 200-seat banquet facility. The project is expected to break ground in spring 2017 and open in 2018. 1 1 2 3 5 3 2 4 4 6 M A I N S T R E E T U N I O N S T R E E T U N I O N S T R E E T 1 R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / D E S I G N F O C U S D o w li n g W a l s h G a ll e r y F a r n s wo M a in e Rockland draws investors, new construction B y J e n n i f e r V a n A l l e n

• Cover