By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

If local developer Justin McIver learned one lesson during the Hotel Bridgton project, it was the value of public input and involvement early in the development process.

So, as the owner of Main Eco Homes and his staff prepares a detailed application for The Gateway, which will soon go before the town’s Planning Board, McIver wants to reach out to the public for an informal question and answer session.

“It’s a work in progress, but I’ve already had a number of people ask questions about it,” McIver said. “So, as a way to get out in front of it, I thought having a Q/A session might be a good way for the public to learn more about the project.”

The Gateway is McIver’s proposed multi-business complex at 267-271 Main Street — the site right at the lights.

The Q/A session will be held on Thursday, July 1 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Main Eco Homes office located at 175 Portland Road. The event will be catered by Elevation Sushi & Taco, a new business set to open soon at the former Towanda’s spot on Main Street.

“This is a super exciting project,” McIver told Planning Board members at their June 1 meeting as part of a pre-application conversation. “I think everyone has been waiting for this day. We’re excited to announce we will be developing the site… It’s the ‘gateway’ to the town. It’s the front door to the downtown. That’s why it’s that important of a project. It will continue to revitalize the downtown, and bring it back to what it used to be.”

McIver told planners the cite will feature “mixed uses.” McIver is working with two separate architects “to pay respect to the traditional history of the building.”

McIver purchased the site from the Macdonald family, which he said “they were huge in making this happen, because they care about the community and the town….I want to thank the Macdonalds for all their help and support to make this a reality.”

The project features five to six commercial units on the first floor, and five residential units on the top floor. McIver noted that the only way to make the project happen was to land a tenant that is willing to “invest and believe” in Bridgton. That tenant is Lamson Brewing, owned by Jack Lamson. He told planners that he and McIver “share the same vision,” and pointed out that brew tanks will be seen in windows facing Routes 117 and 302. “People will be able to look and be a part of the process,” Lamson said. 

“We’re excited that Jack will take this corner spot for a restaurant and brewery. He will be the anchor tenant. Without him, we can’t make this happen,” McIver said. “He has been coming here for many years.” 

On the Lamson Brewing website, the first photo to appear is an old color postcard of Moose Pond and Pleasant Mountain. According to the website, Jack is head brewer. He started brewing in 2010 at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. His career as a TV news anchor took him from Boston to North Texas, Myrtle Beach and upstate New York. “His love for beer and brewing followed every step of the way.” It appears the next step is to set up a shop in Bridgton.

There will be parking onsite. Both wrap-around seating and rooftop seating to tap into the brook-side atmosphere.

“There is nothing in North Conway, and you would have to get to Portland to see something like this,” McIver added. “It’s going to be a destination spot. It will be very good for the whole town. It will clean up a site that has been contaminated, and it will revitalize it versus dilapidated and collapsing buildings.”

The site is in the General Development (2) zone. If approved, McIver hopes to start construction in the fall, with the goal of having the brewery/restaurant up and running for the summer 2022 season.

“We’ll be looking forward to seeing the proposal,” Planning Board chairwoman Deb Brusini. “That area is a travesty.”