Future Plans

As I was out and about in Rockland this summer I was amazed at the level of development taking place in the city. The building boom is on, as evidenced by the most recent five-story building proposed for the corner of Pleasant and Main Streets. Who knows how long this trend will continue. While I am happy for Rockland and for the projected tax revenues these new establishments will bring, I would also like for the powers that be, the planning boards, and the voters, to proceed with caution.

We have to remember the little people here, especially those in the South End. I drove through a few streets in the South End while I was home. One house I passed was in great disrepair and looked as though it was abandoned. I drove down around Atlantic Street and spied that new house with all the glass that overlooks the harbor. It was in sharp contrast to that abandoned house and other homes in the area sporting peeling paint and sad looking lots in terms of upkeep. I’m told that the windows in the new house do not open. The owner is said to be from Florida and won’t live without air conditioning. It’s sad that she won’t get the benefit of a fresh ocean breeze throughout her house.

Rockland is now known as a destination, not just a way to get to somewhere else. I pick up national magazines from time to time that advertise Rockland as a great place to visit, and it is. We have the legacy of Charlie Cawley and MBNA to thank for a lot of the renewed interest in the area. We also need to thank the visionaries who believed in Rockland as an art mecca and opened art galleries. We now have nine in town. The same accolades go to the many restaurateurs who also took a chance on Rockland. I counted 25 restaurants and other places to eat in the Chamber of Commerce list online that are within Rockland’s boundaries.

Rockland was not named one of 12 distinctive destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for nothing.

All of these observations got me to thinking about the future. What will Rockland look like to the world in 100 years, I thought. Will the boom continue or wane. Will the glory days of wealthy people coming to spend their summers here in Maine return? Of course we have many visitors every year and many who have summer homes, but I’m talking about the people who have summer estates, like the ones in Bar Harbor in the days before income taxes and anti-trust laws; the big forest fire in the 40s; and the depression.

The modern day version of these estates is the condo phenomena which we are now seeing evidence of in town. They all want to be up high to get a view of the water. This new building will have condos on the top three floors.

I’m going out on a limb here to make some predictions about the face of Rockland and especially of the South End 100 years from now. There are professional people who make such predictions for a living. I don’t claim to be one of them, but 100 years from now when someone is reading this, I hope they can check off at least some of the things I predicted.

I predict more condo developments and tourist lodging. In years past we had several hotels in town. There was the Thorndike, The Hotel Rockland, The Lynde Hotel, which looks to me like it was in the same location as The Hotel Rockland later on. Anyone know for sure? There was also the Hotel Lindsey on Main Street which became the Camden-Rockland Water Company and then turned back into the Captain Lindsey House Inn in 1995. The Maine Central Hotel stood on the corner of Park and Union Streets. It was later named the Narragansett Hotel and then Wayfarer East. I believe at least part or all of that hotel is now condos.

Today, besides the Captain Lindsey House, we have the Berry Manor Inn; LimeRock Inn; the Navigator; the Trade Winds; the Samoset Resort; and all the motels up Glen Cove way. I predict that the growing tourist industry will demand more local lodging.

Because I predict that the marina business will continue to grow, the “boat people” will need more amenities. They do not have transportation once they come to shore, therefore they will need places like grocery stores close to where they step on shore. Taxis and some kind of shuttle service will increase in number to accommodate these guests.

I believe that the South End will see a major chain grocery store established in the area. I see the area where Duncan Market was and those little establishments in that block possibly being sold to accommodate such a large store. At this point, except for the small grocery store in the South End, everyone has to go way up to the North End for their weekly grocery shopping.

I also see the homes bordering Sandy Beach Park near Ocean and Scott Streets going the way of the farms and taken over by developers. There is quite a bit of open land there already which could be used for the development of a motel complex similar to the Tradewinds.

Unfortunately, I also predict that local access to the water in this area will be nonexistent as the marinas expand. They will have to deal with the tide coming and going, but I believe that there will be a pier or some kind of structure built right over the beach, thus shutting out local kids who are now enjoying swimming there. I expect a gated access will further restrict local use.

All is not lost in my predictions for the future, however. Because of the increased tax revenue coming from all these new sources, the youth of the city will benefit greatly. I predict that there will be a public swimming pool established either near the present Rec Center (it might also be razed); or next to one of the ball fields in the South or North End.

We could also see an amusement center in the vein of the Six Flags concept, which we have here in Georgia; or a water park. I see this on land out on Route One going towards Thomaston.

All of my predictions depend on the continuing good climate for development in the area. There may be periods of time in the next 100 years when things will slow down some because of the economy or unknown disasters. However, Rockland is like the proverbial phoenix. We always rise from the ashes and start again.

Save this piece for the perusal of future generations. Better yet, put it into a time capsule the next time you get a chance to do that. See if I’m not at least partly right. Thanks for listening.