BIDDEFORD — With environmental cleanup now complete, major developers are being sought to submit proposals for the former Maine Energy Recovery Company waste incinerator site.
The city is looking to embark upon a new era for the downtown with the redevelopment of the 8.5-acre Lincoln Street site, and the request for proposals will go nationwide today. According to the RFP, all proposals are due by May 2, and the city will make a decision by May 23.
Meanwhile, the city is planning to hire a consultant by June who will address market feasibility, said Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson.
Several ideas have been discussed for the parcel, from a parking lot to a civic center, but Stevenson said the city is taking the existing development in the area into account, and looking for a use that will enhance the tax base and bring jobs. According to city documents, mixed-use developments are being sought that would provide commercial/office/light-industrial and/or retail space.
“We want to make sure we get bodies in the downtown and start driving the economy,” he said.
This pre-development stage, in which the city is pursuing the market analysis and financial feasibility study, comes after several other steps in the process. Most notably, the city council voted in 2012 to purchase the Maine Energy property and demolish all but the smokestack, which is used for cellular phone transmissions.
“A lot of this bright, new promise in the downtown would be stillborn without that action,” said Richard Rhames, who was a city councilor at the time of the vote to purchase Maine Energy, when he addressed the council Tuesday.
The incinerator was demolished in the summer and fall of 2013, and site cleanup was recently completed, with the removal of building materials, ash and dioxin-contaminated soils, according to city documents. Some additional contaminants are expected to be removed during the redevelopment phase.
The city is requiring developers to submit a letter of interest demonstrating the details of their plans for development on the site, their background and experience, and their financial capacity to see it through.
“We don’t want to just talk to tire kickers,” said Stevenson. “If someone has a legitimate interest, they need to show that they’re players.”
Councilors heard from Stevenson at their Tuesday council meeting, and some expressed excitement at seeing the process move forward.
“This is not necessarily something that we put up a ”˜for-sale’ sign and the highest bidder gets it,” said Councilor Michael Ready. “Who we partner with will be one of the most important decisions we make in the next 20, 40, 100 years. This is a really important step.”
“It’s fantastic that we’re looking for very big hitters,” said Councilor Marc Lessard.
In response to a question from Councilor Clement Fleurent regarding a possible Tax Increment Financing district for the site, Stevenson said it is too early to discuss that, though the city will want to look at different incentives.
— Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 322 or kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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