File Photo / Tim Greenway
Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque
Updated: July 27, 2022
An Auburn lot slated for mixed-use development with brewery anchor
Courtesy / City of Auburn
Great Falls Construction, of Gorham, plans to purchase a 6,800-square-foot downtown lot in Auburn owned by the city, highlighted in this image, at 186 Main St.
Casting a vote of confidence in Auburn's future, Great Falls Construction plans to buy a downtown city-owned lot the Gorham-based company will turn into a mixed-use facility with a brewery and apartments.
The planned purchase price for the 6,800-square-foot lot, listed by the Boulos Co. on the city's website, has not been disclosed. Jay Brenchick, the city's economic development director, told Mainebiz that the 186 Main St. lot has been listed for about a year and a half along with eight other city-owned properties. Current listings include a 0.74-acre lot at 131 Main St.
Great Falls Construction's plan for 186 Main St. includes a building with a craft brewery, distillery and restaurant tenant on the ground and first floors, and rental apartments making up the rest of the property. They would be a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units.
"This is a gorgeous location, near the Androscoggin River and within walking distance to Auburn's vibrant downtown," Jon Smith,owner and president of Great Falls Construction, said of the company's first foray into the 23,400-population city.
"We are pleased to not only bring a top-notch eatery to central Maine, but also to help add some much-needed housing units," Smith added. "This beautiful building will complement the charm and character of Auburn's downtown district and demonstrates our team's meticulous craftsmanship."
The move caps a flurry of commercial development activity in the city, which has made headlines for its claims as America's YIMBYest, for "Yes in My Backyard" to new development. Mayor Jason Levesque has told Mainebiz he expects $100 million coming into the city this year along with the creation of 300 to 400 new jobs, and sees a "good chance" of breaking $200 million by June 2023.
"More excitement in Auburn!" Levesque said of the Great Falls project in a LinkedIn post. "Great developers free from restrictive ordinances and partnering with willing business-minded city staff, can and will create great downtown neighborhoods and solve our housing crisis, while creating amenities for residents and visitors."
Julie Curran, who oversees business development at Great Falls Construction, noted that the company has done client construction projects in the area and was impressed by Auburn's marketing efforts.
"Since our initial meeting with the team at the city," she told Mainebiz, "we have been drawn to their business-friendly and proactive culture." She also noted that both parties are aligned in their visions for the importance of downtown development "to appropriately create and enhance the community's vibrancy and sense of place."
She said that while the company is still working on the design, it expects the building will have around 15 apartment dwellings.
'Economic development win'
The Auburn City Council has allocated $1 million toward downtown development, and notes on the listing for 186 Main St. that a maximum of up to $250,000 per project is available to assist with downtown development.
In Tuesday's announcement, Brenchick called the project a "true economic development win" for downtown Auburn.
He told Mainebiz that the purchase price and timeline for the lot sale are still being finalized, and that the city hopes to release more information next week, along with the name of the brewery coming into the space.
Auburn is currently home to three breweries, Gritty McDuff's, Lost Valley Brewing Co. and Side by Side Each Brewing Co.
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