GORHAM – Plans are under development to build a state-of-the art medical office complex on Route 25 at Mosher’s Corner in Gorham.

Martin’s Point Health Care is drawing up plans for a 15,000-square-foot facility on a 28-acre site on Main St. (Route 25) adjacent to Beal’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream. Beal’s would buy five acres from the health-care provider.

The proposed medical building plans would triple the size of the present Martin’s Point offices in Gorham, which has 5,000 square feet in leased space at 510 Main St.

Family doctors could be practicing in the new Martin’s Point medical facility as early as July 2014.

Dick Daigle, vice president of support services at Martin’s Point, said Tuesday it hopes to start construction of its new facility in November. (Martin’s Point is) “looking to design the clinic of the future,” Daigle said.

“We estimate to spend over $3 million on the construction of the new building with additional investments for infrastructure support, which is still under development,” Peter DeWitt, communications director at Martin’s Point, said Wednesday.

Once known for its agriculture, Gorham these days continues to sprout commercial development, including medical facilities. Mercy Hospital opened Gorham Crossing Primary Care in 2009 in South Gorham at the intersection of County Road and South Street.

Martin’s Point has nine health-care centers, including its present one in Gorham. According to its website, Martin’s Point offers “primary care services for the whole family, in addition to other services to meet our patients’ unique needs. Many of our health care centers offer convenient onsite services such as lab, pharmacy, and radiology as well.”

A relocation move in Gorham puts Martin’s Point in the heart of the busy intersection of routes 25 and 237.

Daigle called its proposed new location the gateway to Gorham.

“It’s a great fit for the community,” Daigle said about expansion plans.

Martin’s Point has an agreement to purchase the land.

Bettina Johnson of Parsonsfield owns the property, according to the Gorham assessor’s office. Johnson could not be reached for comment by the American Journal deadline.

The town’s assessed value of the land is $292,500.

The site is where Route 237 (Mosher Road) and Route 25 (Main Street) – two well-traveled highways – intersect.

“A perfect location – nice project for the town,” Tom Ellsworth, director of the Gorham Economic Development Corp., said Tuesday, calling the proposal “significant.”

David Galbraith, Gorham’s zoning administrator, said Tuesday his office has met three times with representatives of Martin’s Point. Galbraith believes Martin’s Point would likely submit an official application to the town for the project in July.

“It’s going to be fabulous,” Galbraith said.

The proposal does require approval from the Gorham Planning Board. Galbraith said the town is working with the Maine Department of Transportation on plans for intersection improvements. The proposal would require an upgrade of the present signalized intersection from a three-way to a four-way.

DeWitt said Martin’s Point is happy with its present Gorham facility, but there are space constraints. DeWitt said it wants to build a new health center to serve not only Gorham, but also the communities beyond.

The proposed building, DeWitt said, would continue to house its five primary care doctors in a state-of-the-art facility that would meet the changing needs of patients. The increased space would allow for future growth.

The Martin’s Point website says its five doctors in Gorham specialize in family medicine and the health center is accepting new patients of all ages. It offers weekend and evening appointment times.

Design details of the new facility are still in progress.

“We have a lot of work to do,” DeWitt said. “We’re very excited.”

Galbraith said the town would encourage Beal’s to share the new access drive with Martin’s Point. Jim Malia of Beal’s could not be reached for comment this week.

Galbraith believes Beal’s long-term plan would be to manufacture and ship ice cream from its Gorham location.

“This is a win-win for Gorham to support a long-term business like Beal’s, while supporting the growth and future permanent home of a community-based health-care operation,” Daigle said.

Martin’s Point Health Care plans to build a 15,000-square-foot facility on this 28-acre parcel adjacent to Beal’s Ice Cream, in the heart of the busy intersection of routes 25 and 237. Staff photo by Robert Lowell

The site as viewed from above.