The developers of the greenhouse/parking/residential project, who plan to break ground in about six months, want to expand on their original plans for downtown Westbrook.

BY CHANCE VILES

AMERICAN JOURNAL

A new rendering showing what the expanded Vertical Harvest would look like if approved. Contributed / Westbrook Planning Department

Developers of the Vertical Harvest project want to add another 6,000-7,000 square feet of retail space and 10 more apartments, for a total of 60, to the building they plan for downtown Westbrook.

The City Council received an update on the Vertical Harvest expansion plans Monday along with other updates on ongoing projects throughout the city, including repairs to the Cornelia Warren outdoor pool, which have hit a roadblock.

Work is expect to begin in late summer or early fall on the $60 million Vertical Harvest building at Mechanic and Main streets, but the city Planning Board must review the plan again and approve the requested expansion.

Saunders said at the same time developers TDB LLC and Vertical Harvest are looking to expand the project: They are looking to “reduce their footprint,” so the building takes up less space and allows for additional sidewalks by the parking area.

The four-story project will include a city-owned free parking garage, a “vertical harvest” indoor farm that will employ upwards of 55 people, first-floor retail space, and if approved, 60 apartments on the top of the structure.

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“The agreements are being finalized between the parties, but first the farm will open, then the retail and parking, with the residential last,” Saunders said.

Saunders has previously said the project may take upwards of two years to finish.

The city will pay $15 million for the parking garage through an agreement using tax revenue from the project, City Economic Development Director Dan Stevenson said, meaning there will be no direct impact on taxpayers. Developers will take on $40 million of the cost and pay for maintenance of the garage, which will continue to be a municipal lot.