Whether its employment, businesses or total annual payroll, numbers at Brunswick Landing continue to grow and surpass redevelopment goals set for the former Naval base.
Steve Levesque, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, told the board on Tuesday that redevelopment at Brunswick Landing is driving development beyond the former base.
Meanwhile, more than
500,000 square feet of former Brunswick and Topsham base properties are leased to more than 60 business tenants. MRRA has sold more than 400 acres of land and 45 buildings, and approximately 40 percent of businesses at Brunswick Landing and Topsham Commerce Park never existed in Maine previously.
The last building MRRA owns at Topsham Commerce Park may soon be sold to the owner of Wicked Joe LLC, an organic coffee company that moved from Water Street in Brunswick to Topsham
Commerce Park in 2014.
According to Levesque, the redevelopment effort has drawn more than $350 million in private and public sector investment into properties over the past four years. And, Brunswick Landing has businesses in each of its target sectors — aviation, biotechnology, composites, information technology, renewable energy and education.
There have been more than 1,600 jobs created, which could grow to 2,000 by the end of this year. Annual payroll is at $100 million, Levesque said, and is approaching the $140 million benchmark that will show the redevelopment effort is “equalizing to the economic impact that the base had when it was fully operational.”
Brunswick Executive Airport is “taking off” as well, he said. Flight operations grew 17 percent in 2017, surpassing the 5 percent goal.
“We are in the midst of one of the hottest real estate markets in the state and things are going well in the region,” Levesque said Tuesday. “The message is that the redevelopment of Brunswick Landing is really starting to serve as a catalyst for development outside of the fence if you will, and in the region.
“Merrymeeting Plaza continues to grow and we think Brunswick Landing’s activities are helping both Cook’s Corner and Merrymeeting Plaza,” he added. “The vacancy rates are about 15 and 20 percent respectively,” which is a drop.
Downtown on Maine Street, he said, there are really no vacancies. Fort Andross is full, housing 135 businesses.
Levesque also noted that 400 former Navy housing units were sold to Brunswick Landing Venture LLC, which is planning to add 200-400 more units in the next couple years at Brunswick Landing and Topsham Commerce Park to meet growing demand.
“So there are just a lot of exciting things happening in the region, and I thought that you folks and the public ought to know about,” he said.
Two new members also joined the MRRA board on Tuesday: Nick Nichols of Bath is a former Bath Iron Works executive and Lenora “Lennie” Burke of Brunswick has a background in real estate and banking.
The board also recognized outgoing member Steve Weems, who served on the board for eight years.
“You guys have a hard job,” Levesque told Weems. “We really couldn’t do it without you. You folks really provide us with good guidance. You challenge us and having a strong board like we do, we’re so fortunate to have that.”
“The only thing I can say is that it’s been a real honor and a privilege to contribute some small amount to the continuing success of this enterprise,” Weems said. “Thank you for allowing me to serve with you and move us forward as we have.”
dmoore@timesrecord.com
• THERE HAVE BEEN more than 1,600 jobs created, which could grow to 2,000 by the end of this year. Annual payroll is at $100 million and is approaching the $140 million benchmark that will show the redevelopment effort is “equalizing to the economic impact that the base had when it was fully operational,” said MRRA’s Steve Levesque.
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