Dear Rockland Residents and Business Owners:
As local residents and business owners (we live in Cushing and operate a boat building business in Thomaston), we have always been attracted to the many features Rockland offers to tourists, boaters and residents. Rockland is rich with culture, offering restaurants, museums, shops, festivals, galleries, entertainment venues and spectacular scenery. The town has a real heart and soul, and we would love to be a part of it by building a 26-room boutique hotel located at 250 Main Street.
There has been a lot of talk about the project proposed for 250 Main. We hope the following will be helpful in clarifying some facts and outlining what our project entails.
Our initial proposal for the location was for a mixed-use 5-story condominium project. The original design,
which proposed the same height and similar exterior architecture as our current plan, was approved by the town in 2010.
Unfortunately the economy was not as quick to turn around and we chose to delay construction. However, Rockland continued to go through her renaissance and we have since identified a real demand for a small hotel to serve not only the bustling tourist business, but also year-round business travelers.
What is the basic plan? The proposal is to build a 26-room boutique hotel to open summer of 2015. Accommodations would be in the upscale mid-market range.
What is the market? Year-round business travelers and visitors to the area, who might, in the current climate, opt for the Hampton Inn or Samoset. 250 Main will offer a bit more upscale accommodations than the current Rockland hotel/motels. Much like the diversity of cuisines and price points in the Rockland restaurant scene, we see our project as another option for those looking for lodging in our community.
Height: We have gone through all the necessary steps and conformed to the city’s requirements. The proposed height was approved in 2010. Whether we were building condos or a small hotel, the height maximizes the site’s small footprint and conforms to the city’s standards for a compact downtown zone.
Parking: Parking is not required for projects located within the Downtown Zone. However, it will be provided on the adjacent block, between Park and Pleasant Streets, through a lease with the Maine State Department of Transportation land.
Traffic: At maximum capacity, we are talking roughly 26 cars -- a small impact on the traffic volume on a daily basis. And here’s the thing - because we are in town – guests can walk to all that Rockland has to offer. There is no bar or restaurant in the lobby, so there will be no additional traffic or the deliveries associated with those businesses.
Design of the Hotel: The design is a contemporary approach to the diverse downtown architectural styles, with a modern terra-cotta nod to the classic brick look prominently seen toward the other end of Main Street. As we are all entitled to our own taste and opinions, please know that we take this process very seriously.
The City of Rockland has its rules and regulations for developing the Downtown Zone and the proposed structure abides by those rules.
As you may know, there is Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 20 at 5:15 at the City of Rockland Municipal Building, Council Chambers 270 Pleasant Street. We encourage you to attend and voice your support for this project.
Please email us if you have any further questions - info@lymanmorse.com
Sincerely,
Cabot Lyman
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