New plan for arena land could ease traffic woes
Photo/Robert M. Cook
Developer Jason Snyder stands in front of land he owns near his Westbrook home where he has proposed building an arena
UPDATE: This story was corrected to reflect that the city of Westbrook is not counting on Stroudwater Place's potential tax revenues.
Westbrook developer Jason Snyder has found a potential new use for two parcels of land he owns in Portland and Westbrook, following trouble getting a proposed retail complex and arena off the ground.
Under Snyder's latest proposal, a 5,500-foot road would be constructed through parts of his 63-acre Portland property and 60-acre Westbrook property and connect Congress Street and Route 25. Traffic congestion has been a longstanding problem in that area, and is an issue for which the Maine Turnpike Authority and Maine Department of Transportation are currently seeking solutions with the Gorham East-West Corridor Study.
Snyder first floated his idea for a connector in a last-minute letter to the city of Westbrook. According to the American Journal, the proposal seemed to be unexpected and wasn't discussed at the meeting.
Previously, Snyder proposed building a $300 million retail and commercial development on one of the two properties. Westbrook officials approved the Stroudwater Place project in 2008, but to date, the project has stalled. Keith Luke, Westbrook's director of economic and community development, says Snyder has met a number of circumstances that have made starting on Stroudwater Place nearly impossible over the last three years.
"When you look at the economy, particularly in the banking sector, you realize that he's been a victim of extremely unfortunate timing," Luke says. "He also had a very enthusiastic partner in the project in Arthur Emil, who passed away last year."
Emil, a well-known New York lawyer and developer who once owned Windows on the World at the top of the World Trade Center, had been Snyder's business partner on the Stroudwater Place project. His involvement lent a certain gravitas to the project, Luke says.
Snyder's latest proposal didn't surprise Luke. "I think he's very eager to find a use for the properties he owns," he says.
Included in the plans for Stroudwater Place was an 8,000-seat, 150,000-square-foot arena Snyder hoped would entice the Portland Pirates to move out of the aging Cumberland County Civic Center in favor of newer digs. He also hoped to host concerts and other events at the arena, which would be funded with bond financing, bank financing and private investment.
When Civic Center trustees were exploring options for the future of the civic center and the Pirates, they considered Snyder's proposal, which Portland Pirates CEO Brian Petrovek called intriguing early in the process.
However, in approving a $28 million civic center renovation last November, the board essentially ended Snyder's bid to attract the Pirates as his anchor tenant. Prior to voting on the renovation, trustees criticized Snyder for delaying his formal proposal until late in the process and for failing to provide adequate details.
Luke said he is not aware of any changes in Snyder's plans, and that the city would still like to see Stroudwater Place become a reality.
"The city would love to see Jason's project come to fruition, sooner rather than later," Luke says. "No public funds have been invested, and it would have a positive benefit on the tax base. But we're not counting on that until it actually happens," he adds.
In the event that Snyder decides to abandon the project, Luke says if he puts the properties up for sale, finding a buyer shouldn't pose much of a problem. "Jason has on his hands a very valuable piece of property that's already received zoning approval from the city of Westbrook."
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