Market Basket’s First Maine Supermarket will Create Up to 600 Jobs in Biddeford
December 12, 2012 in Articles
Author: Dina Mendros
Publication: Journal Tribune
BIDDEFORD, Maine — Market Basket supermarkets, with stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, is popular among many Mainers in the southern part of the state, who travel regularly across the border in search of lower grocery prices.
Soon, traveling out of state will no longer be necessary.
According to a city official, Market Basket will open its first Maine store next year in Biddeford. Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson said a store representative, who didn’t wish to be named, told him the store will open in the summer or early fall of 2013.
Portland planners show cautious support for massive Bayside project
November 29, 2012 in Articles
Author: William Hall
Publication: The Portland Forecaster
PORTLAND — The Planning Board took its first look Tuesday at a proposed housing and retail complex that would transform the Portland skyline.
A rendering of the proposed Maritime Landing development, which would include a mix of housing, parking and retail space on the site of former rail and scrap yards along Somerset Street in Portland's Bayside neighborhood.
It also discussed plans to renovate a downtown building for use as a charter school.
Tuesday's workshop did not require the board to take any action on the proposed Maritime Landing complex, which call for building seven towers, up to 12 stories tall, on 3.24 acres of city-owned property along Somerset Street in the Bayside neighborhood.
Falmouth places size limit on Route 1 businesses
November 27, 2012 in Articles
Author: Matt Byrne
Publication: Portland Press Herald
FALMOUTH — The Falmouth Town Council has voted unanimously to limit the size of new stores to 50,000 square feet on a one-mile stretch of Route 1.
An aerial view of the Falmouth business district along Route 1. A new zoning law limits the size of ground-floor businesses in the retail zone between Bucknam Road and Route 88, which is currently home to a Walmart, a Shaw's supermarket, and a massive shopping complex that is dotted by vacancies.
The step is the first in a series of efforts to reinvigorate the business district, repave the highway and add streetscape and landscaping elements designed to attract pedestrian traffic.
The zoning law applies to ground-floor businesses in the retail zone between Bucknam Road and Route 88, which is currently home to a Walmart, a Shaw's supermarket, and a massive shopping complex that is dotted by vacancies.
US home sales rise 2.1% in October
November 19, 2012 in Articles
Author: Christopher S. Rugaber
Publication: The Associated Press- Portland Press Herald
In another positive sign, applications for mortgage loans to buy homes jumped 11 percent in the week ended Nov. 9.
WASHINGTON — U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose solidly in October, helped by improvement in the job market and record-low mortgage rates. The increase along with a jump in homebuilder confidence this month suggests the housing market continues to recover.
Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell to fresh record lows this week, a trend that has helped the housing market start to recover this year. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says that the average rate on the 30-year loan dipped to 3.34 percent, the lowest on records dating back to 1971. That's down from 3.40 percent last week and the previous record low of 3.36 percent reached last month.
Proposed commercial developments in Portland show market optimisim
November 5, 2012 in Articles
Author: Matthew Cardente
Publication: New England Real Estate Journal
Southern Maine’s commercial real estate market continues to show signs of improvement in the 3rd Quarter of 2012. One key indicator is the amount and recent activity from developers in Portland.
In June, the city of Portland’s Planning Board gave final approval for the redevelopment of Thompson's Point. Located off on I-295, Thompson’s Point has been a run down industrial site for many years and has been viewed as an “eye sore” by many. The $105 million project will include an events center for the Maine Red Claws, a hotel, a parking garage, and up to 300,000 s/f of office, medical office, and restaurant space. Last month, the U.S. Commerce Department through the Obama Ad- ministration, granted the Thompson Point project $1.5 million towards its redevelopment. Construction is planned to commence upon securing leases for approximately 80,000 s/f of the commercial space. This project is estimated to create 455 jobs in Portland.
