Three separate entities have expressed interest in developing the former Rockport Elementary School (RES) site at the corner of Routes 1 and 90 (West Street) in Rockport Village. Allen Insurance Agency, Almar Inc. and NewHeight group have each submitted documents to the town’s Planning Department regarding the 7.4 acre parcel of town-owned land.

On June 16 the RES Task Force, a group of citizens and town employees tasked with overseeing the development of the site, will meet publicly to consider Letters of Interest (LOIs) and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) they received from potential developers. The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. in the Geoffrey Parker meeting room at the Rockport Opera House. It is to be streamed live here.

The RES Task Force is the most recent permutation of a group once called the “RES Redevelopment Committee,” which has attempted since 2019 to garner interest in the site from developers.

This spring, members of the RES Task Force drafted a document titled “Invitation to submit a letter of interest,” which asked 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.

Allen Agency

The Allen Agency proposal calls for erecting a 10,000- to 15,000-square-foot commercial building that would initially house employees of the insurance company, as well as staff from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS) and the staff of United Midcoast Charities (UMC). The bid to develop the town-owned property was filed by company president J. Michael Pierce. 

“Additionally, our plan could create further shared workspace for self-employed individuals and/or small businesses, as well as shared common space for conference room and community use,” said Pierce. “Incorporated within the building would be space dedicated as a hub of innovation and education. Both HIOBS and UMC seek to empower others (students, educators, nonprofits) through education and innovation. We envision space dedicated to collaborative efforts between the building occupants and the community at large.”

Although architectural renderings were not supplied in the proposal, Pierce said the envisioned layout of the site would allow for a “complimentary parking arrangement” between the community and commercial use of the site: commercial during the week, and community use on the weekends. He said the design would maintain much of the site’s green space, including the athletic field often used for soccer.

“We strongly feel that the existing soccer field should remain. As an employee-owned organization, we have employees and former employees whose kids and grandkids have spent (and continue to spend) countless hours on the RES soccer field and we would like to see that continue into the future. Allen would be open to owning, maintaining and managing the field as part of the agreement or potentially working with the Town to do so,” said Pierce.

Although the Allen Agency initially submitted an RFQ to the town in February of 2020 in response to the RES Task Force’s appeal for contractor qualifications, Brian Dancause, Town of Rockport’s Economic Development Specialist, said that the insurance company wanted their RFQ to be considered as a Letter of Interest in this recent round of submissions by potential developers.

“Rockport's former town manager [Bill Post] contacted Allen's president, who confirmed the company's continued interest in the site and requested that their RFQ response be considered a Letter of Interest),” said Dancause on June 14.

Almar Inc.

Allen Mitchell, President of Rockport-based McCormick & Associates, Builders, submitted a LOI to the Town Office on April 5 on behalf of Almar Inc. Mitchell’s proposal calls for developing the property into five lots, each containing a two-bedroom home. Like Allen Agency, Mitchell’s proposal would keep the property’s softball field intact.

“My vision is to leave the ballfield basically alone. Driving into Rockport and seeing children and adults enjoying outdoor sports is a plus for the Town of Rockport. The balance of the site could be developed into a small 5 lot subdivision of two bedrooms homes, similar to what was built on Cottage Lane, off Grove St., plus a parking lot for approximately 36 cars, playground and greenspace,” said Mitchell.

The proposal also includes “to-do list” outlining funding for portions of the project and actions to be taken by the Zoning Board in order for the project to proceed:

“The zoning would have to change to allow lots of 12,000 sq. ft., but by extending the zone from the adjacent residential homes next door could be achieved through proper channels. The development costs of the road and utilities could be born by the developer as part of the cost of the project, which would be built into the sale of the homes, etc. A value would be included in the cost of the lots which would be paid by the town.”

NewHeight Group

Portland-based NewHeight Group is a development firm specializing in affordable and market-rate housing. In their LOI, NewHeight provided several examples of buildings they have constructed throughout the state, ranging from apartment complexes to community housing developments. Erin Cooperrider, principal at the company, submitted the following vision for the RES site.

“The fact that the site is an important gateway location, the community has already invested considerable time and energy in determining what is needed and wanted at this location, and the opportunity exists to employ smart growth practices makes the site a very attractive place-making opportunity for any development team,” writes Cooperrider.

“Having established a development plan that is responsive to the town’s vision and determined economically viable by financial modelling, NewHeight Group will assemble a team, appropriate to the task, to design, build and deliver the plan in partnership with the Town. NewHeight Group will act as master developer, securing financing for the overall project, guiding the team and serving as liason to Town staff and stakeholders.”

Earlier this year 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.