PHOTO / MAUREEN MILLIKEN
The entrance to the T-Mobile call center at FirstPark. The center opened at the business park in 2005.
Updated: July 24, 2020
Pandemic generates surge of interest in FirstPark, including 2020’s third sale
Courtesy / FirstPark
From left, Cynthia Cloutier, executive assistant at Kennebec Regional Development Authority/FirstPark, Maine Eye Doctors partner Helen L. Bell-Necevski, partner Lorie Lepley Parks, Jim Dinkle, executive director of FirstPark, and Irene Belanger, China selectman, help cut the ribbon at the ceremonial opening of Maine Eye Doctors in Oakland.
By Staff
FirstPark, the 285-acre business park in Oakland, is seeing a surge of interest during the pandemic, including the park's third sale of property in 2020.
On Thursday FirstPark welcomed its newest occupant, Maine Eye Doctors, a team of local optometrists that bought a 6,000-square-foot site at 25 FirstPark Drive for an undisclosed price.
The transaction was brokered by Bruce Holmes of Century 21 Venture Ltd. and Don Plourde of Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate, according to a news release.
The building was customized for Maine Eye Doctors and includes seven eye care lanes, eye care equipment and technology. Partners for the practice include Lorie Lepley Parks, Helen L. Bell-Necevski and Zlatko Necevski.
"During COVID-19, we have seen a lot of interest from businesses of all sizes that are evaluating their options because of the coronavirus,” said Jim Dinkle, executive director of FirstPark. “Many are attracted to FirstPark because of our location off Interstate 95 and the fiber internet, the fastest speed available for video conferencing, telehealth and remote work for employees during the pandemic.
"How companies do business is changing. Businesses around the world are evaluating their location to see how it impacts their bottom line and quality of life for their employees. FirstPark is an ideal business location in Maine.”
Earlier this year, J.B. Brown & Sons acquired the T-Mobile building at 133 FirstPark, which attracted interest from investors across the country.
J.B. Brown & Sons, a commercial property management and development company in Portland, paid $10.7 million for the 78,610-square-foot Class A, single-story office building on 26 acres. The building is occupied by T-Mobile's customer care center under a lease that expires in August 2027.
T-Mobile, is the anchor tenant and largest building in the park. Other businesses with property in the park include Bioenergetic Healing, Gateway Financial Partners, Inland Foot & Ankle, L.L.Bean Inc., MaineGeneral Health, Maine Medical Partners, One River CPAs, Waterville Community Dental Center and SurgiCare.
"The commercial real estate market is steady and many different sized businesses are evaluating their current space to see if it will meet their needs,” said Don Plourde, broker-owner of Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate.
“In my 37 years of experience, it is clear that COVID-19 has changed the way businesses are thinking about their physical locations and what their needs are and how to keep their employees safe. FirstPark has several amenities that make it appealing for all types of industries," he added.
New marketing plan
The business park has experienced growth in the past two years with a new marketing plan that has attracted new businesses and attention of site selectors around the world. The flurry of interest recently included a visit from Kim Yonghyon, consul general of the Republic of Korea in Boston.
FirstPark was established by the Kennebec Valley Regional Development Authority and touts attractions including pre-permitted sites, shovel-ready lots, protective covenants, innovative technology and infrastructure.
PHOTO / MAUREEN MILLIKEN
Waterville Community Dental moved to FirstPark in Oakland from downtown Waterville last November.
In the coming months, the park is expected to make more investments, including increased marketing, exploration of residential options and the creation of a dog park, all designed to attract more interest in the 285-acre campus.
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