Staff Writer

On the surface, it may look like development in Scarborough is proceeding at a healthy pace with the opening of a new Wal-Mart this week, but Town Planner Dan Bacon said besides the eventual move of NorDx Laboratories from the Maine Medical Center Building on Route 1 to the Orion Center, no new large development projects have been proposed.

Scarborough Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) President Harvey Rosenfeld said a number of business projects have been proposed in town. He said the former Konica film laboratory building, located across Route 1 from the Maine Medical Center campus, is under contract, however, he couldn’t say which businesses are interested in moving to Scarborough or which business has the Konica building under contract. 

“I would say [projects] are moving a little slower, but are not on hold,” Rosenfeld said.

Bacon said many commercial properties in town haven’t been sold. He said three to four properties in the Dunstan area currently are vacant, and have been for at least a year. Bacon said some vacancies in the Oak Hill area, including properties across from Hannaford Drive, “would have been pounced on” two or three years ago.

Rosenfeld said if a business is credit-worthy, now would be a good time to start a business project, because construction costs are down.

“Eighteen months from now, hopefully the economy will be in better shape,” Rosenfeld said. “We are seeing activity, and keeping our fingers crossed.”

The new Wal-Mart “Supercenter,” which opened Wednesday, is 208,000 square feet, or 114,000 square feet larger than the existing Wal-Mart, which was the first to open in Maine in 1992.

Wal-Mart will sell groceries, including a deli, produce along with beer and wine – a new feature compared to the former store. 

Wal-Mart Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations Alexandra Serra said the store is the first of its kind in northern New England with wider aisles without center displays that give customers more room to walk. The building features 222 skylights, which will reduce lighting energy requirements. Serra said the cement flooring includes recyclable materials, with the floor finish designed to reduce chemical cleaner usage.

Serra said the store will employ 450 people – 200 more than the previous Wal-Mart. The average wage of a full-time employee is about $12 an hour, she said.

Bacon said the store originally was approved in 2005, along with Lowe’s, which is in the same retail center. Town Assessor Paul Lesperance said he has yet to figure out tax revenue from the new Wal-Mart, but said it should be higher than the former store, currently valued at about $14 million.

“It’s a pretty good number, that’s for sure,” Lesperance said.

Both Bacon and Serra said they are unsure what will happen to the existing Wal-Mart building. As of now, Bacon said the property will not be redeveloped.

Staff writer Dave Dyer can be reached by calling 282-4337, ext. 219.