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V O L . X X I I N O. X V I J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 18 community relations head and currently a consultant for the mayor's offi ce, says that is in the city's future. "It's not urban sprawl yet. We're poised to have that happen because of Portland's increasing rents and its permitting and inspection [processes]," he says, noting that such approvals take longer in Portland and typically are more complicated. "We've had some independent success in people moving in. Our goal is more than to be the benefi ciary of urban sprawl. Moving 100 jobs from Portland to Westbrook isn't real economic development." Baker says he'd rather draw companies like Pika Energy and ones from out of state that create local jobs. Westbrook native and Mayor Colleen Hilton says people are discovering her city, which is seven miles west of Portland, or about a 17-minute drive. "We have so much going on that we have to manage it," she says of the city's many development projects and growth. e nearby town of Gorham, which is just a bit over 12 miles west of Portland and about a 25-min- ute drive, is facing much of the same challenges to manage growth and assure there are enough teach- ers and people in the fi re and police departments. " e 65% rise in population from 1990 to 2010 is from people raising families who want a more suburban location and good school system," says omas Ellsworth, president of Gorham Economic Development Corp. "We are priced under Scarborough and Falmouth and are a good, aff ordable community close to Portland and close to their jobs. Twenty years ago they might have considered us to be out of the way." He adds: " ere are more people looking for apart- ments now than there are apartments to rent." In addi- tion, he argues, Portland's high tax rate and housing prices are driving more people into suburban areas. Likewise, there's not a lot of industrial inventory available right now, he says. e vacancy rate in Gorham is 5.9%, in Portland 3.9% and in Westbrook 2.3%, according to NAI e Dunham Group's Greater Portland Industrial Market Survey 2016, which inventoried 545 industrial properties in seven cit- ies and towns. Demand continues to outpace supply, so lease rates have increased, the real estate company found. Gorham averages $4.50 per square foot, Westbrook $5.75 per square foot and Portland $5.99 per square foot. Neither Ellsworth nor Hilton had statistics on how many people or businesses have moved to their area from Portland, but both noted that people come from elsewhere as well to be close to Portland. Reeling in businesses In the past few years Westbrook has attracted a number of businesses in the health care, technology and food businesses, as well as low-cost housing and other real estate developers. Among them are Mast Landing Brewery, Schlotterbeck & Foss, Black Dinah Chocolatiers and soon the Brealu Café, which is moving fol- lowing a fi re at its Portland location on Forest Avenue. Other food companies in the area include Catbird Creamery, Papou's Kitchen, Al's Pals, Union Bagel, North Spore, Rosen's Full Belly Deli, the Frog & Turtle gastropub and Haven's Candies. Steve Shaff er, owner of Black Dinah with his wife Kate, said the company was looking at Portland to relocate its Isle au Haut-based company, mainly to improve shipping and other logistics. "But places weren't priced right and there was a huge amount of eff ort in the permitting process. It would have added months and months to the [move]," Shaff er says. He says the company issued a press release saying it wanted to move to southern Maine, and Baker from Westbrook contacted him. "I liked what was happening in the downtown area," Shaff er says. "We were permitted in a week. Our location required rezoning, and the planning board walked us through it. ey made the process really easy." He adds that having other food businesses in the area with similar mindsets also helps. e company now operates out of 4,250 square feet and has a storefront near Westbrook's down- town waterfront. e only drawback, Shaff er says, is all the construction underway in the city has caused the store parking lot to be shut for several months. Westbrook, Gorham join Greater Portland Are these bedroom communities turning into Portland's urban sprawl? B y l O r i V a l i G r a F O C U S P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Westbrook Mayor Colleen Hilton on the deck of Ethos Marketing and Design, which overlooks the Presumscot River. » C O N T I N U E D F R O M C O V E R

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