By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

A possible renovation may be in the works to the former Konica building on Route 1 in Scarborough, however, traffic issues must be solved before work can begin.

Planning board members denied site plan approval Monday night because of concerns regarding the current traffic situation where the building is located, as it is directly next to the connector to Interstate 295 in Scarborough, which leads to Portland.

Town Planner Dan Bacon said the current issue with the location of the building is the speed of traffic and the current curb cuts, or the opening of the sidewalk to allow vehicles access on the Konica property. 

“It’s a challenging location,” Bacon said. “It’s a higher speed location. There are two curb cuts there today, not in very good locations.”

Bacon said to alleviate the problem, there could be a possible curb cut access with the Foundation for Blood Research property next door, as well as a longer center/left hand turn lane traveling north on Route 1.

Bacon said the sketch plan for the renovation was first brought to the planning board two months ago. He said it is still possible for the site plan to be approved later this summer.

Bacon said Robert Gaudreau, developer of the property, and developer of the Nonesuch River Plaza at the former Humpty Dumpty potato chip factory, plans to convert the building into a medical office building. 

Town Assessor Paul Lesperance said Gaudreau bought the building in December of 2005 for $4 million. The Humpty Dumpty plant was purchased in August of 2002 for $500,000.

Gaudreau said traffic problems with the building go back to the 1980s and 1990s.

 “Basically the entrance to the facility does not follow any traffic standard, making the building unusable right now,” Gaudreau said. 

Gaudreau said Konica, the former owners of the building, moved out four years ago.

Gaudreau said in consulting with the planning board, he asked if the town would make a request to the state about possibly lowering the speed limit, but said the planning board was “not forthcoming” with an answer.

 “Even with a 45 mile per hour speed limit, it’s more like 65,” Gaudreau said.

Scarborough Economic Development Corporation President Harvey Rosenfeld said it would make sense to use the building for medical offices, as the building is located across the street from the Maine Medical Center building, but said there could be a “mixed-use” building, meaning other businesses could be attached.

Rosenfeld said besides the current traffic problem, the other issue with the building is the overhaul needed to convert it into office space.  He cited the current economic climate as another issue.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Rosenfeld said.

Gaudreau said he expects to finish the building and have full occupancy in less than two years.

“It’s not going to happen quickly,” Gaudreau said. 

 Gaudreau said he can offer businesses a requested amount of square feet in the building because the building has yet to be renovated. The Konica building is 65,000 square feet.

Gaudreau said even with the current economic situation, there is still a need for office space.

“The banks are nervous, everyone’s nervous,” Gaudreau said. “But we can get through it.”

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