By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

Work continues on a brand new store in Scarborough, while the future remains uncertain for the lot of a former store.

In with the new

Construction continues for the new Walgreen’s pharmacy, which will be located on the corner of Route 1 and Gorham Road in the Oak Hill Plaza.

Town Planner Dan Bacon said the former building, which housed a Burger King fast food restaurant, has been torn down and workers began to grate the property a couple of weeks ago.

According to a Jan. 16 Scarborough Leader story, the planning board unanimously approved the final proposal for the Walgreen’s building.

“The process itself was very give and take,” planning board member Allen Paul said. “It actually was a very good process, the building originally didn’t look like anything that it came to look like. We made suggestions to them and they made good.”

According to a Dec. 12 story, one suggestion made to the Bohler Engineering firm included not using a “non-mechanical” storm water treatment tank designed by Bohler.

“It sounds a little too simplistic,” planning board member Anne Littlefield said at the time.

Bohler Engineering modified the treatment system in their January meeting with what project manager Bill Goebel said was “state-of-the-art technology” for the storm water system. Bohler Engineering also made modifications to have accesses for both Route 1 and Gorham Road.

Bacon said the 13,150 square foot building could be finished after the holidays, around February or March 2010, and open a month or two afterward.

The lot at Oak Hill Plaza has been vacant for some time, as Bacon previously said it had been four years since the property had been in use.

Out with the old

Bacon said there have not been any plans made for the former Wal-Mart building located on Payne Road. Wal-Mart moved out of the building in May to the new location across the street, a new Wal-Mart “Supercenter.” The new building is 208,000 square feet while the old building, originally constructed in 1992, is 114,000 square feet.

Bacon said Wal-Mart still owns the building and property. A condition created more than four years ago, when the plan for the supercenter was introduced, the company must either develop or sell the property within 15 months of leaving. 

Bacon said the condition was put in place because the planning board was concerned at the time Wal-Mart would retain the property, preventing new competition.

Scarborough Economic Development Corporation President Harvey Rosenfeld said he is concerned about who Wal-Mart may sell the lot to, and said the current economic situation might also factor in the slow sale of the lot.

Rosenfeld said he’s been told by realtors there has been interest in the property, but hasn’t been told who. He expects to know in the near future. 

He said the lot is in a good location for business.

“I think it’s a very prime piece of property,” Rosenfeld said.

Both Rosenfeld and Paul said they cannot foresee, because of its size and the traffic layout, any other use for the lot other than being a retail store.

Staff writer Dave Dyer can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 219.