WESTBROOK, Maine — The Waterstone Properties Group broke ground into the next phase for a research and medical campus at Rock Row in Westbrook.
This will mean that the Maine Savings Pavilion at Rock Row will be dismantled and construction for the 200,000-square-foot campus will begin.
The medical campus is expected to be finished in 2024.
“When this portion is complete in two years or so, there will be a tremendous treatment facility for patients associated with an all-around wellness portion to not only receive cancer treatment, but to have their regular treatments and have regular medical visits here," Westbrook Mayor Michael Foley said.
Waterstone’s goal for the campus is to have it be a one-stop shop for all health care needs, and to have it feel more welcoming and less clinical than a traditional hospital.
“Less hospital-like and intimidating — it’s awful walking into a hospital nowadays, right?" Josh Levy, co-owner of the Waterstone Properties Group, said. "It’s all about sick care, and so how do we make it about a center for wellbeing and promote health education and preventative care? And if you do need treatment or imaging or diagnostics or [to] go to a specialty practice, we’ll have that here.”
The Rock Row medical and research campus will be anchored by the New England Cancer Specialists (NECS), the largest medical oncology group and leading provider of cancer care in the region.
“Our new facility will offer patients access to our world-class providers and teams. We will continue to offer more clinical trials than other practices in the state," Dr. Chiara Battelli, president of NECS, said. “The Rock Row medical campus will help us meet patients and their families where they are in their needs.”
RAYUS Radiology is also partnering with Waterstone and NECS to provide a wide range of health care services.
“We have a full slate of services. In fact, I would say that this center will be our flagship center in Maine, really in New England," Scott Raymond, the senior vice president for RAYUS Radiology, said.
Levy said the campus will create 1,555 full-time jobs, 540 in the area and 1,010 induced and indirect jobs, and contribute over $83 million a year in wages. That will create about $7.5 million of sales tax to the state, $300 million in economic output, and close to $1 million dollars in taxes and fees to the city of Westbrook.
“But the numbers aside, it’s a comprehensive place for preventative care, care, and aftercare. We’re trying to create a one-stop shop for the best in medical and health and wellness features," Levy said.
“To be able to have community cancer treatment is the new treatment model for cancer patients," Foley said. "They don’t have to go to big cities like Boston or Chicago to get the treatments that they need. They can get them right here in the community."