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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 29 O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 5 "We have the freedom and excitement of doing something new, which really fits into the commu- nity, but infuse it with all of the modern amenities that really make the branded hotels successful and that people are used to," Riley says. "It makes for a good combination." e hotel will close as it typically does after Columbus Day. Amid the renovation, the current restaurant will be closed and made into a larger lobby that's more inviting to passersby. A breakfast area and fitness center will be added. e property will employ roughly 25 seasonal and part-time workers. Riley says he hopes to finish renovations and reopen by June. Room rates have not been determined yet, but will likely be $129 to $229 per night, he says. A new name has not yet been chosen. Rockland's resurgence e purchase is one of three hotels in the works in Rockland as the city enjoys a wave of development that promises to draw more year-round visitors and residents, and spark yet more activity on its working waterfront. More than $20 million is being poured into various arts, business, and infrastructure proj- ects. To name a few: In July, investors Richard Rockwell and his daughter Jennifer opened Main Street Market, a 3,000-square-foot grocery and cafe in the historic Kimball Building — one of a string of invest- ments Rockwell is making along Main Street. Jake Dowling, owner of Dowling Walsh Gallery, plans to build a five-story building in back of his Main Street gallery to house street-level retail, plus storage and management for art on the upper floors. e $3 million project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2017. e Maine Center for Contemporary Art is building a new home in Rockland at 21 Winter St. e $3 million site is expected to open next July. e Farnsworth Art Museum recently com- pleted a $3.75 structural upgrade to buildings on its Rockland campus, the Wyeth Center and its Olson House in Cushing. e project includes improvements to its heating, cooling, and humidity systems, roofs, floors, windows, clap- boards and sidewalks surrounding the museum. Audra Caler-Bell, Rockland's community devel- opment director, says that the hotels are critical to the growth of downtown and the city of Rockland. "I think it's essential," she says. Hotel rooms have been in demand for events like the Maine Lobster Festival, the North Atlantic Blues Festival and the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show. Overnight places like the Navigator and the Tradewinds Motor Inn have traditionally filled up quickly. And so have facilities nearby in Rockport, as well as e Hampton Inn & Suites in omaston. When that happens, "we don't end up getting to take full advantage of the injection of money from outside visitors," Caler-Bell says. "If visitors end up C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Contact Perkins Thompson at 207-774-2635 or perkinsthompson.com Solutions start here. Perkins Thompson. With a history spanning nearly 150 years, a thorough comprehension of today's complex legal environment, and a genuine commitment to each client's future, the attorneys and staff at Perkins Thompson are ready to meet your needs. Put our years of experience to work for you. Real Estate Group E S TA B L I S H E D 1 8 7 1 From left: Melissa Murphy, Pete McDonell, Julie Ray, Paul Pietropaoli, Gordy Scannell PT.realestate.indd 1 9/29/15 2:27 PM

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