Redevelopment News, Fall 2018
Director’s Report: Redevelopment Effort Continues to Progress at Fast Clip
We’re gearing up for another busy autumn at Brunswick Landing. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve welcomed a dozen new businesses to Brunswick Landing and now have 115 entities doing business on former Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB) property. And to date, redevelopment activities have created nearly 1,800 jobs and more than 1,500 residents in former Navy housing. Over $400 million has been invested in the redevelopment project at both Brunswick Landing and Topsham Commerce Park. It’s important to keep these types of statistics, or key performance indicators as they say in economic development circles. The numbers show us how we’re performing relative to the goals of the NASB Reuse Master Plan. We’re ahead of expectations both in jobs creation and payroll and the housing is completely full. The stats are part of the reason MRRA is recognized as one of the most successful base redeveloper among its peers. None of this would have happened in isolation. The investment made by the business community and strong federal, state and local support have been key ingredients to these successes. We’re all in this together.
MRRA to Host 2018 Base Redevelopment Forum Oct. 8-10
The Association of Defense Communities is bringing its Base Redevelopment Forum back to Maine for the second time. A previous BRF was held in Maine in 2013. The 2018 edition will be held in Portland and at Brunswick Landing where MRRA has enjoyed tremendous success redeveloping the former Naval Air Station Brunswick. MRRA’s efforts are recognized as the best in its BRAC Class of 2005. MRRA is pleased to once again help lead this Forum, which has become the nation’s leading conference addressing the issues, challenges and opportunities associated with the reuse and redevelopment of former and realigned military installations. Click for more information about the forum.
Women-owned Businesses On Rise at Brunswick Landing
A recent article in the Press Herald highlighted the growing number of women-owned companies in Maine. In fact, it was reported that from 2007 to 2018, Maine ranked first among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for both revenue and job growth among women-owned businesses. This trend is also taking hold at Brunswick Landing where we proudly have 11 businesses owned and founded by female entrepreneurs. They include: SaviLinx, owned by Brunswick native Heather Blease; Harpswell House, owned by Karen Brown; Blue Dog Daycare, owned by Meghan Osborne; SteriZign, owned by Sonia Lutarewych; Skordo, co-owned by Annie and Erin Karonis; Turtle Rock Farm, owned by Jenn Lehnini; O’Neal Janitorial, owned by Pauline O’Neal; All Natural Technologies, co-owned by Marianna Panagiotopoulos; Planus, co-owned by Rose Mamoli; Sunray Veterniary Clinic, owned by Anne Del Borgo; and Quahog Bay Bedding, owned by Beth McLeod. Read Press Herald story here »
Featured Property: 220 Admiral Fitch Ave.
Former Navy Building 9 is now available for lease. This 8,888 SF building rents for $4/SF NNN with tenant responsible for leasehold improvements. Building 9 was originally built in 1943 to support WWII activities in the European Theatre. It’s been renovated several times over the years for different uses by the Navy. It has a nice combination of office and light manufacturing space. Located on the corner of Orion Street and Fitch Ave., it could be used for office operations and manufacturing activities with updating. It includes a garage, storage space and a small parking lot. Contact us for more information. View specs »
Housing Demand Surging at Brunswick Landing
Brunswick Landing Venture, the firm that purchased the former Navy housing from George Schott, is converting 82 units from rentals to for-sale homes in order to accommodate increased demand. There are rental homes available, and there are for-sale homes being marketed with REMAX Riverside’s Sue Spann and Lula Hansen. Anyone interested can call the BLV leasing office for rental information at 207-725-9132, and call REMAX at 207-319-7814 to discuss any purchase inquiries.
Brunswick Executive Airport to Receive More Than $6 million in FAA Grants
Brunswick Executive Airport will receive $6,215,820 in funding through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for infrastructure improvements. The majority of the funding, $3,636,800 will be awarded for the construction of a new hangar to accommodate general aviation aircraft. Funding of $1,029,445 will be for installing perimeter fencing, $330,255 to repair utilities and $1,219,320 to improve airport drainage. The funding was awarded through the FAA’s Military Airport Program (MAP). MAP funding is awarded to civil sponsors of military airfields for the development of aviation facilities for the public or to assist sponsors in converting former military airfields to public use. This is the latest installment of a $40 million, 10-year modernization and improvement of the airport.
Construction on New Connector Road, East Entrance To Start this Winter
Work on the new entrance and access road to Brunswick Landing is scheduled to commence in December. The contractor, Crooker and Sons, of Topsham, will build an approximately quarter of a mile road from Gurnet Road near the Cook’s Corner Mall westerly and parallel to Forrestal Drive and the housing area. The new road will interconnect with Admiral Fitch Avenue to north of the intersection of Neptune Drive and Foresstal and to the south of the speed bump. We expect it to be complete sometime in the spring of 2019. The $2.6 million project is being funded by the Town of Brunswick, the State of Maine Department of Transportation and MRRA. This entry point and road are called for in the NASB Reuse Master Plan. It will help improve safety and minimize gridlock coming off Route 1 and on Bath Road where snarls are quite prevalent during rush hour. View map on MRRA’s website »
Business News: SaviLinx, Wayfair Continue Rapid Growth
Wayfair recently christened its new expanded office space in former Building 11 (Navy Exchange). The company plans to hire more employees, bringing it over the 500-jobs mark it anticipated when it first expanded to Brunswick Landing. SaviLinx is also growing quickly and is adding to its footprint in the old Quarterdeck of Building 250. The company has nearly 200 employees here now and will be adding another 150 workers to support a project contract. SaviLinx, founded by Brunswick native Heather Blease, CEO, was again named to the Inc. 5000 list. Savi boosted revenue by 812% from 2014-2017, and ranks No. 617nd of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.A.
TechPlace Filling Up Fast With Innovators
TechPlace is fast approaching full occupancy with eight new companies joining the manufacturing business incubator in recent months. We’re delighted to welcome the following businesses to the TechPlace community: Claymar Floats, Fiddlehead Designs, Harpswell Coastal Academy, Lean East, Running Tide Technologies, Noble Wellness, Grifin LLC, and Ocean Renewable Power Company. TechPlace also received some nice coverage from Mainebiz in its popular annual Fact Book edition. The article focused on the shared industrial spaces and new composites layup facility. Read Mainebiz story here »
Navy to Lease Former Public Works Compound to MRRA
MRRA added three more buildings and about five acres of land to its real estate portfolio recently after receiving a Lease in Furtherance of Conveyance (LIFOC) on the former Navy Public Works Compound. MRRA has a lease agreement for Buildings 53, 584, and 590 with the Navy. All three buildings already have subtenants ready to move in. Bamforth Marine will lease 584 and 590 (total 15,200 SF) for boat repair and service while Priority Real Estate Group will lease 53 (10,000 SF), home of the Navy Caretaker, who will move to Hangar 6.
MRRA Not the Only Redeveloper in the Game
While MRRA is the largest property owner at Brunswick Landing, others are playing major roles in the redevelopment of this beautiful property. Cardente Real Estate, Priority Group, Brunswick Landing Venture, and TBW, LLC are doing great work to build this place into Maine’s premier work-live-play technology park. Cardente has begun marketing a new design-build concept behind its properties off Leavitt Drive. There’s enough space back there for up to 60,000 SF of office space. Tom Wright has preliminary plans to add two more office buildings and a couple greenhouse. He is working closely with MRRA and other property owners to improve pedestrian pathways, signage and lighting on campus. Priority Group is working to construct up to 90,000 SF for new and expanding businesses. Additionally, a new developer, 14 Wiley Road (owned by Brunswick native Bill Moore and Matt Hancock), has plans for build a 20,000 mixed-use office building on Pegasus Street near Hangar 6.
