ROCKLAND, Maine — A manufacturing company is interested in moving into Rockland’s Industrial Park, bringing with it at least 40 jobs, according to the city manager.
City Manager James Chaousis said Wednesday night that The Dunham Group, a commercial real estate firm, has contacted the city and stated that it represents a manufacturer that wants to buy the final available lot in the city’s Industrial Park.
Chaousis said the name of the potential buyer is Rockland Industrial Park North LLC, but he did not know what kind of manufacturing was involved. No other information on that limited liability company was available on Thursday.
The city manager said The Dunham Group indicated that the manufacturer plans to employ 40 people from the start.
The industrial park parcel at 60 Merrill Drive is 30 acres and is located at the west end of the road near snow plow manufacturer Fisher Engineering.
The City Council will hold a closed-door session Friday afternoon to discuss its position on the sale of the property. The council is expected to place an item on Monday’s agenda to authorize the city manager to sell the land to Rockland Industrial Park North.
Land in the Industrial Park is the one exception to the city requirement that bids be sought for city-owned land. Parcels in the park can be sold by a single vote of the council.
The parcel is appraised by the city at $280,800 but limited development is allowed on it because of wetlands. There are about 28 lots that the city has sold in the park since it was created in 1978. The lot in question has never been sold.