The old post office building at the south end of Westbrook Commons, considered an important piece to downtown revitalization, is about to get a long-awaited facelift.
After more than a year of vacancy, the building has changed hands from a local development group to a banking institution with branches across southern Maine. Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union, the new owner, is looking to invest between $1 million and $2 million to revitalize a building that is often vandalized.
The credit union bought the property from Universal Group LLC, which had been working with the city on a redevelopment plan. The Westbrook Planning Board approved the credit union’s plan on Aug. 1, which calls for a drive-through off William Clarke Drive, improved access to William Clarke Drive and the construction of nine new public parking spaces.
“This project will redevelop another downtown property, will bring a new financial institution to Westbrook and will enhance parking and traffic flow in the city-owned parking lot (behind CVS),” said Westbrook City Administrator Jerre Bryant.
According to Erik Carson, Westbrook director of economic and community development, changes to the area are not limited to parking.
“One of the first and most visible of the changes to this area will be the removal of a number of diseased and/or poorly placed trees to accommodate the drive-through, improve traffic circulation and visually connect Westbrook Commons with William Clarke Drive,” said Carson.
One of the problems with the vacant building has been the ability of police officers to see into the darkened area, said Bryant.
“Long empty, it has become a home to graffiti, illicit activity in the stairwells and vandalism,” said Carson in a letter to local business owners.
According to Westbrook Police Chief Paul McCarthy, police have responded to reports of criminal activity in the area 13 times since January 2005. He said six of those calls were for criminal mischief, three for suspicious activity, two for alcohol or drug use and one each for trespassing and arson.
The city is hoping the redevelopment of the building will turn the immediate area from a dark spot better suited to loitering and criminal behavior to another piece in the downtown revitalization project. Right now, there are no lights at night, broken windows, graffiti, dead or dying trees and trash around the building. The city is hoping that could change in the next couple months, if renovations begin as soon as they are expected to.
According to Carson, the city council also has approved the development agreement. The only thing left is for the new owner to begin renovating, which Carson thought could begin now before paving companies end work for the year in November. The parking spaces, drive-through and improvements to access to William Clarke Drive would come first.
Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union is a nonprofit, member-owned financial cooperative with over 15,000 members and assets of about $100 million, and branches in Biddeford, Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach and Sanford. The credit union began life more than 50 years ago as St. Andre’s Federal Credit Union, formed by the Rev. Arthur Decary of St. Andre’s Parish in Biddeford. Decary formed the credit union to help many of his parishioners living on low incomes, according to the company. Credit union officials had not returned calls as of presstime Wednesday.
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