Cabela’s Will Be the Lead Tenant in the Mixed-Used Development
The Gateway at Scarborough, a major mixed-use development that will include 438,000 square feet of retail, commercial and office space, received final approval Monday night from the Scarborough Planning Board. The lead tenant for the project will be a 130,000 square foot retail store for Cabela’s, which bills itself as the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this final go-ahead from the town of Scarborough,” said Gene Beaudoin, partner in the New England Expedition Scarborough LLC, the project developer. The town council, planning board, and other town officials have all been thoroughly professional as we have worked through the permitting process, and we especially appreciate the support we have received from local residents and the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation. They all have helped us make this a better project.

According to Beaudoin, the Gateway at Scarborough has already received necessary approvals from the Maine Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Turnpike Authority. Last year, the Town of Scarborough approved a tax increment financing district and credit enhancement agreement with the developer which will help with infrastructure improvements for the $74 million project.

In addition to Cabela’s, the Gateway at Scarborough will include approximately 68,600 square feet of compatible retail space, three 6,000 square foot free-standing restaurant facilities, a 4,000 square foot full-service banking facility, a 200 room hotel and approximately 80,000 square feet of professional office space. The project will be located on the Haigis Parkway at exit 42 of the Maine Turnpike.

Beaudoin said that contractor R.J. Grondin & Sons of Gorham has been hired to do the site work for the 74-acre project, and the initial clearing of land should begin next week. A formal ground-breaking ceremony will take place in about a month. Retail stores and restaurants should be open for business by May of 2008.

New England Expedition said that the Scarborough Cabela’s store is expected to generate more than three million visitors a year, drawing outdoor enthusiasts and their families from all 50 states and around the world. The developer estimated that the entire Gateway at Scarborough project will generate more than $100 million in annual retail sales, and provide about 800 full and/or part-time job opportunities.

“The Gateway at Scarborough will be the catalyst for drawing new businesses to the area, helping our existing businesses grow, and creating new property tax revenue for our town,” said Harvey Rosenfeld, president of the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, which has worked closely with the developer throughout the site location and permitting process. “This project is what good economic development is all about. It is a win-win for everyone.”

When completed, the entire project will consist of approximately 11 separate buildings, all in a harmonious architectural design, and integrated with a network of roads, pedestrian walkways, and landscape features such as ponds and fountains.