ROCKPORT — In a continued effort to find potential developers for the site of the former Rockport Elementary School (RES) at the corners of Route 90 and Route 1, members of the municipal RES Task Force have begun seeking “letters of interest” from parties that may choose to convert the undeveloped, town-owned 7.4 acre parcel of land.

Members of the RES Task Force drafted a document titled “Invitation to submit a letter of interest,” which asks prospective developers to submit copies of their past professional experience, financial standing and vision for the property to the town’s Planning Department, all by April 9.

On March 8, the Rockport Select Board unanimously approved the the document requesting letters of interest (LOI). The document outlines the history and physical details of the property as well a “town vision” for the site. Potential development ideas range from an eldercare facility to an amphitheater and an information center.

“Workshops attended by Town residents and officials in 2018-19 indicated that residents are interested in: mixed use of commercial, residential, housing, and public spaces, green and recreation space for all age groups with walking paths connected to existing trail systems, a market space to support local farmers and artisans, a welcome or information center, outdoor plaza and seating area, a performance or amphitheater area, eldercare/daycare/pet care,” reads the document.

Members of the Select Board expressed enthusiasm in this latest strategy to generate interest in the property, which features a paved parking area as well as a field which has been used over the years for public athletic and recreational activities. 

“I for one would be a board member who would be eagerly in favor of this property to be aggressively going forward into the hands of someone else as soon as possible so we can start focusing on other things,” said Mark Kelley, March 8.

“I think that the RES Task Force will be better informed at the end of this process to better go forward,” said Chair Debra Hall.

“I’m just a little fearful of the [property] market. I think that if things start tightening-up, that may deter good people from coming forward, so full steam ahead,” said Kelley.

The initiative to seek LOIs is the latest strategy the town has used to attract developers over the past two years. Previous efforts including requests for qualifications (RFQs) from developers yielded few results or plans for the site which were not pursued by the town.

“We had sent out an RFQ twice previously, once with no responses and again it was reissued. The RES Task Force has looked at this and discussed this issue and felt it better to send out an invitation to submit a LOI which is a little less than an RFQ, really what’s it’s looking for is to try to create discussion with potential developers who are interested in beginning a discussion with us so we can sit down and determine a path forward,” said Town Manager Bill Post.

The RES property was further discussed at a March 11 meeting of the newly-formed Economic Development Committee, a group whose role is to “investigate current regional economic conditions, assist the Town with the creation and execution of appropriate economic development initiatives and marketing opportunities, coordinate activities to enhance or expand economic development, and engage in related activities, as necessary, to further the EDC's mission and purpose,” according to the Town of Rockport Website.

The first potential initiative outlined in the bylaws of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) is the redevelopment of the RES site.

Other initiatives include the expansion of broadband internet service in town and advising the Select Board on the need for affordable or workforce housing. 

Hall, who is a member of the EDC as well as the Select Board’s liason to the RES Redevelopment Task force, said that Task Force member Stephen Smith had already begun contacting developers to submit LOIs for the RES site.

“Steve Smith had identified several developers that he had talked to in Portland already that had some potential interest in at least talking to us and he his printing those out and is going to send the [request for LOIs] with personal notes to developers and invite them to contact the Town for further discussions,” said Hall.

Smith is the architect who was selected to design the Rockport Public Library.

Last month, the Select Board approved a proposal by Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) founder, Ben Fowlie, to operate a drive-in movie theater on the former RES site from June through October.  The theater will be called “Shotwell,” and audio for the films will be transmitted to audience members through a specific station on their car radios.

The proposal also called for the placement of food trucks on the site, an element of the experience that existed at  the drive-in last year when it operated from the same location. The proposal accounts for up to 85 vehicles being parked on the site, though 75 cars would be considered a “full house,” and advises traffic to the site be routed from Commercial Street (Route 1) rather than Pascal Avenue. Tickets for the films would be sold online.