The multimillion-dollar development project on The Downs property in Scarborough is surging forward, with a major tech firm moving in next month and plans underway for a new town center. 

“We’re in a pretty good place,” said Rocco “Rocky” Risbara, Scarborough native and co-owner of Risbara Bros. Construction, the local firm performing the development work. 

Best known for the iconic Scarborough Downs racetrack that officially closed in the fall of 2020, the 600-acre parcel went up for sale in 2018. Risbara and fellow developers and high school classmates Peter and Michaud purchased the property, kicking off a hive of activity that has included residential, commercial and industrial development.  

A large amount of initial development focused on more than 300 residential units ranging from market-rate to senior affordable housing. Interest in building more residential units hit a snag in spring 2022, when town officials amended local ordinances to cap development by only allowing building permits for 44 new residential units a year in projects like The Downs.  

The developers, according to Councilor John Cloutier, want to build a total of 2,000 new units over a 20-year development period. The town ended up granting an exemption to the developers in fall 2022, allowing them to create 289 new units over the next three years. Most likely, Cloutier said, the developers will come back at the end of that period to ask for another exemption to build further. 

“I think that’s about the pace we’re going to expect from them,” he said. 

Developers have also been adding industrial and commercial tenants. Businesses in the new subdivision include the Throttle Car Club, AV Technik, Mainely Tubs and Shucks Maine Lobster. One of the larger tenants is Westbrook-based veterinary products developer IDEXX Laboratories, which will move into a new location by the end of July. The company has been tight-lipped about exactly what purpose the new location will serve, but the building spans 100,000 square feet, and Risbara said the tech firm will have room to expand in the future. 

Risbara called it the “crown jewel” of the area he calls the Innovation District, a part of the property that is largely dedicated to industrial and non-retail commercial projects. 

Quincy Hentzel, CEO of the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce, which includes Scarborough, said the addition of such a high-profile, Maine-based company brings notoriety to The Downs area. 

“We are excited to see IDEXX move forward with their facility, which will anchor the hugely successful innovation district of The Downs,” Hentzel said. “This will further establish The Downs as one of our region’s premier live/work destinations.” 

In addition, Costco, he said, has received approval for a 161,000-square-foot complex on the property, which will include a store and fuel island. Coscto has disclosed few details about the final project. While Risbara could not say what the timeline is for the wholesale retailer, he did say that “they are well under construction.” 

The Allagash Brewing Company, Risbara said, is also planning to set up a brewery and tasting room on the property. That project is still in the planning stages, but it’s possible the new location could open late next year. 

Risbara said overall, the Downs development project is about 40% finished, with the so-called Town Center project the next major step. Town officials have been discussing the idea of a town center being part of the Downs project that will include a “town green” surrounded by mixed-use buildings. 

In essence, Risbara said, the concept mirrors efforts underway in other communities, such as Freeport, Biddeford and Auburn, to promote the construction of structures with businesses such as retail and restaurants on the ground floor, with apartments and/or condominiums in the upper floors. The goal, he said, is to create a downtown area where local residents will want to walk to local businesses. 

“Obviously we want to do something that works really, really well for the community here in Scarborough,” he said. “We found that housing within that downtown area is really a crucial item to have, so that people can literally walk to those amenities that we all want in terms of retail and restaurants.” 

The Scarborough Planning Board is expected to vote this week to approve a subdivision plan for the town center, with other votes on the project scheduled for a later date. Cloutier said residents and officials are particularly keen to see the final result.  

“Where they’re starting to move now is of greater interest as far as the town is concerned,” he said. “It’s been interesting to see that.” 

The concept of a town center is something Scarborough has never had. Right now, the town is made up of a series of villages and neighborhoods in a rough ring around the Downs property, so Cloutier said building a proper town center there makes sense.  

That said, Cloutier described the new town center as “a new part of Scarborough, but it’s not going to take over Scarborough.” He does not imagine the addition of a town center will have that transformative of an impact on the town overall. 

“I just view this as another village or part of town that’s going to have its own identity,” he said.