Info box: The Saccarappa Park development committee will meet with the mayor’s economic development committee Thursday March 23 from 7 to 9 a.m. at City Hall.

Pull quote: “On the third attempt, I think we may have gotten it right,” Erik Carson, Westbrook director of economic and community development.

In the city’s latest effort to redevelop Saccarappa Park, four developers have submitted what city officials have deemed “viable” proposals to build on the park.

Director of Economic and Community Development Erik Carson said he was pleased with the proposals, which were opened on March 15. “On the third attempt, I think we may have gotten it right,” he said.

The bids come from Cape Builders and Remodeling of Cape Elizabeth, Flannery Properties of Westbrook, T & T Development of Portland, and the Westbrook Housing Authority. The proposals vary from a one-story village of shops to a seven-story retail, commercial and residential building.

As they now stand, the proposals are more concepts than concrete plans, according to Carson, and the city intends to work with the developers to adapt the proposals as needed. He said the flexibility of the city’s request for proposals helped attract the developers this time around.

The proposal from Cape Builders is for a seven-story building with retail space on the first floor, commercial space on the second, and condominiums on the upper floors. The condominiums would range between $250,000 and $300,000, with penthouses on the top floor priced higher.

The plan calls for two buildings no higher than One Riverfront Plaza and a line of sight view between the buildings from Main Street to Presumpscot River. Underground parking would be available, as well as some off-site parking.

Flannery Properties is proposing a three-story, 56,000 square-foot professional office building with parking to be determined with the city after recommendations by the Parking Committee. Tim Flannery, owner of Flannery Properties, the company that owns the Dana Warp Mill, said he looked at the piece of land and determined that a three-story structure would fit it best.

“I don’t think a five or six-story building right downtown is right,” he said. “(And) aesthetically, you wouldn’t put an all-glass building downtown. We decided to keep some brick but have a lot of glass in the back to look at the river.”

T & T’s plan calls for a one-story, 8,650 square-foot retail shopping center bordering Main Street and the Bridge Street Spur with 20 parking spaces in the rear. Joyce Talbot of T & T said the design is an attempt to attract pedestrian traffic downtown, to lure workers out of their office buildings and provide them a place to spend their lunch hours and after-work hours.

“What we proposed was a little village effect,” Talbot said. “We didn’t want to maximize development but leave as much green space as possible.” She said the plan leaves 65 feet of park area stretching behind the building to the river. “We want to enhance the park and have some amenities,” she said.

T & T Development has done several projects downtown, including the remodeling of the old Sebago building into office spaces. The company is also renovating the Warren Furniture building just across the street from the park.

The Westbrook Housing Authority is proposing a five-story, 80,000 square-foot structure with commercial and retail space on the ground floor, possible commercial space on the second floor, and one and two-bedroom condominiums in the $179,000 to $210,000 range on the upper floors. John Gallagher of the Housing Authority said the intent is to produce an 18-hour presence by bringing more residents into downtown.

“(You want) to make sure there’s people living downtown to take advantage of the retail stores and service operations downtown,” he said. “We want to see part residential no matter what happens (on the site). To bring life back into the downtown, residents should be a part of it.”

“They’re four pretty neat proposals that respect a balance between preserving the park and developing,” said City Administrator Jerre Bryant. “I’m very pleased with the proposals we’ve received. They are four very viable projects.”

Carson said a committee has been formed to examine the bids. It will begin by meeting with the mayor’s economic development committee to examine the proposals and generate questions for the developers. The new committee members include City Councilors Dorothy Aube, Suzanne Joyce, and Ed Symbol; Planning Board Chairman Ed Riedman and Planning Board member Greg Blake, with a third Planning Board member likely to be named later; and City Engineer Eric Dudley, City Planner Brooks More, and Carson.

The committee will make a recommendation to Mayor Bruce Chuluda, who will then make a recommendation to the City Council, which has final say on the matter. Carson said he expects the process to take no more than a month or so, after which the chosen developer can draft final plans and, if the city decides to go with the project, construction can begin early in the fall.

A rendering of Flannery Properties’ proposed building for Saccarappa Park.A Main Street view of Flannery Properties’ proposed development for Saccarappa Park.

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