A ground-breaking for the town center of The Downs in Scarborough, depicted in this rendering, is set for Wednesday at the site of the former Scarborough Downs racetrack off Route 1. Courtesy of The Downs
The Downs will break ground Wednesday on a new town center at the heart of the 525-acre former racetrack property.
Valued at $130 million, the first phase of town center development will include businesses, boutiques, restaurants, housing, tree-lined sidewalks, walking trails and recreational greenspace. Gov. Janet Mills and other dignitaries are expected to attend a noontime ceremony.
The developers of the former Scarborough Downs have already completed $178.5 million in residential and commercial projects in the mixed-use plan that stretches from Route 1 to Payne Road, including a Costco set to open in November.
Establishing a town center has been a stated community goal since it was added to the comprehensive plan in 2006. It will be developed on land near the former grandstand.
When completed, the town center will link The Downs to the Oak Hill section of Scarborough at the busy intersection of routes 1 and 114, which includes the town hall, public safety building, high school, a variety of businesses and a Hannaford shopping plaza.
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