After neighborhood pushback on Roux's B&M site, developer scales back proposal
COURTESY / Tsoi Kobus Design
A rendering shows the Roux Institute's proposed campus at the former B&M site in Portland.
In response to critical public feedback, the nonprofit developing the Roux Institute's Portland campus has scaled down the proposed complex to reduce the overall square footage by 27% and reduce the maximum building height to 170 feet.
The plans for the campus had garnered complaints from the community about traffic, noise and other disruptions to the residential neighborhood.
The mixed-use campus will be built on the 13.5-acre site of the former manufacturing facility for B&M Baked Beans. The Institute for Digital Engineering and Life Sciences (IDEALS) is the nonprofit that bought the B&M property and will oversee development of the campus for the Roux Institute.
In response to concerns about size and traffic, IDEALS proposed a reduction of 468,000 square feet in building density, which is equivalent to a 27% cut in total square footage. It also said it would reduce the maximum building height to 170 feet, down from 210 feet. It also will limit to eight stories the height of the planned hotel, and cut the retail space by 60%.
“I think these were very significant reductions for the plans for the site. We’ve gotten some positive feedback from some neighbors already. Some neighbors just don’t want any change,” said Chuck Hewett, executive director of IDEALS.
The reduction in square footage means less lab and office space, which will reduce traffic to and from the campus, IDEALS said.
By reducing the building heights, the planned campus also will reduce shadows and view interruptions for the nearby neighborhoods, Hewett said. Reducing the size of the hotel will ensure that it serves only the Roux campus rather than the community at large, as well.
IDEALS plans to reserve land near Interstate 295 for a dedicated exit to the campus if it becomes necessary due to traffic concerns as the campus develops over time.
“I don’t know what more we can do and still preserve hope for a world class institute in Portland,” Hewett said. “We remain very optimistic.”
“Probably the biggest reduction will be longer term. There will be some reduction in housing. We reduced some of the retail. What it may mean down the road is that there may be a need for another section of Portland to see some development as a satellite,” Hewett said.
IDEALS will have its first workshop on June 14 with the city of Portland planning board.
“I see that they scaled down their project, which is a good thing. I’m still concerned about traffic,” said Allison Brown, a Portland resident on nearby Lennox Street, who has been concerned about the size and scale of the Roux project.
IDEALS said it will still work with local transit to manage traffic to and from campus by subsidizing bus tickets, creating a bicycle path, a water taxi, as well as rental bikes and flex cars.
In 2020, Northeastern University launched the Roux Institute with a donation of $100 million from the Roux Family Foundation, which was established by tech entrepreneur and Lewiston native David Roux and his wife, Barbara.
The institute aims to train workers in Maine and draw talent from around the world to work in areas such as artificial intelligence, life sciences and medical research.
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They should offer courses in how to manage NIMBYism. Well maybe not, since they so far have caved to every special interest including the NIMBies. Maybe Portland isn't as development friendly as it claims. The City isn't getting any tax revenues from this non-profit. Engineering students aren't big spenders. They may be far more conservative than liberal colleges. Is Roux not planning to grow to some point?
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