Brunswick Naval Air Station: From Base To Ghost Town

The Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine was officially decommissioned in May 2011, following a 2005 announcement by the Navy and federal government that the base would close. The base was a military airport located 2 miles southeast of Brunswick, which operated with the public name Brunswick Executive Airport until its closure. The base was redeveloped as Brunswick Landing, a busy hub of tech businesses, manufacturers, colleges, and more.

The base was decommissioned in 2011

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) had been working for several years to plan for life after the Navy. Steve Levesque, who was leading that work, recalled the harsh reality of the closing: "And the Navy was gone, and [we] had 2 million square feet of empty space, totally empty, literally a ghost town."

On the day of its closure, Navy officials handed over the remaining property to the MRRA. The base is now known as Brunswick Landing and has become a hub for tech businesses, manufacturers, call centers, and service businesses. Southern Maine Community College has also built a new campus on the site.

The redevelopment of the base has been a success, with Levesque stating that the transformation has "blown away our expectations." The initial goal was to replace the 700 civilian jobs lost due to the base closure, but the overall payroll from new businesses is now just about equal to the total civilian and military payroll under the Navy.

The base is no longer empty, and thousands of people could soon be living on Brunswick Landing, in addition to those who work and visit the site.

It is now known as Brunswick Landing

The former Brunswick Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine, is now known as Brunswick Landing. The base officially closed in May 2011, following a decision by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Committee. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) has been managing the redevelopment of the base, transforming it into a hub for high-tech businesses and an industrial park.

Brunswick Landing has become a vibrant community, boasting a diverse range of businesses and amenities. It is home to two colleges, athletics complexes, an assisted living centre, and a mix of international and American businesses, including tech companies, manufacturers, call centres, and service businesses. The Southern Maine Community College has also established a satellite campus at Brunswick Landing.

The redevelopment of the former naval base has brought numerous economic benefits to the area. Steve Levesque, who has been leading the MRRA's efforts, highlighted that the number of jobs at Brunswick Landing is set to increase from 921 to 1600 by the end of the year, surpassing initial employment predictions. Additionally, the overall payroll from Landing businesses is now comparable to the total civilian and military payroll during the base's operation as a naval air station.

The transformation of Brunswick Landing has been a success, with Levesque commenting that the development has more than exceeded expectations. The redevelopment has breathed new life into the former base, creating a thriving community and business hub that continues to grow and attract new investments.

The site was contaminated with chemicals

The early cleanup efforts in the 1990s involved the removal and off-site treatment or disposal of contaminated soil and hazardous materials from various areas of the base. For instance, in 1994, the Navy removed over 1,000 cubic yards of pesticide-contaminated soil from a former pesticide storage and mixing area. Similar actions were taken at the former base fire-training site, where contaminated soil and buried drums were excavated and treated. The Navy also implemented cleanup plans for specific sites within the base, such as the Orion Street Landfill North, Hazardous Waste Burial Area, Eastern Plume Site, Perimeter Road Landfill, and Neptune Drive Disposal Area.

In 2007, the Navy resumed its assessment and cleanup efforts, focusing on ordnance removal. This continued until 2015, with the Navy spending an additional $3-4 million. Despite these efforts, in July 2015, concerns were raised about contamination with perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) at levels above the EPA's provisional health advisory. This was particularly notable at sites associated with the past use of PFC-containing fire-fighting foam, such as areas around the airplane runway and between hangars. Groundwater contamination was also discovered at the former fire department building and the foam storage building.

The Navy is currently investigating areas where these firefighting foams were historically stored and potentially discharged, to confirm the presence of PFCs in the environment. Ongoing studies are being conducted to evaluate the presence or absence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the former station. The Navy's efforts to address the contamination at Brunswick Naval Air Station have been ongoing, with the goal of ensuring the site is safe for future use and development.

The base was built in 1935

The Brunswick Naval Air Station was built in 1935 by the New Deal agency, the Maine Emergency Relief Administration. The base was built on land that had been used since the 1700s for growing blueberries. The Maine Emergency Relief Administration was a state division of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, tasked with building a chain of airports in coastal towns, inland towns, and lake resorts. The base was built 2 miles southeast of Brunswick, Maine, and was originally a small municipal airport.

The base was commissioned on April 15, 1943, to train Canadian and British Air Force pilots of the British Naval Command. The 1,487-acre station was built in part on land that was donated by the town of Brunswick. The base operated with the motto, "Built for Business." During World War II, pilots from the Brunswick Naval Air Station carried out anti-submarine warfare missions with around-the-clock efficiency. The base supported the Allied Forces in their war efforts, and after Japan's surrender in 1945, the base was scheduled for deactivation.

The air station was deactivated in October 1946, and the land was leased to the University of Maine and Bowdoin College. However, in 1949, operations at the base were taken over by the Brunswick Flying Service, and the base was reactivated in 1951 with a new primary mission of anti-submarine warfare. The base continued to be an important naval airfield, supporting various military operations and serving as a training ground for squadrons.

It was a major employer in the region

The Brunswick Naval Air Station was a major employer in the region, with a significant impact on the local economy. In 2011, when the base officially closed, it left behind 2 million square feet of empty space. The closure resulted in the loss of 700 civilian jobs, and there were around 5,000 sailors and their dependents stationed at the base. The base provided over $187 million to the local economy, including $115 million in salaries, $38 million in contracts and material purchases, and $34 million in medical purchases.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) was tasked with redeveloping the site and creating new job opportunities. Steve Levesque, who led this effort, recalled the challenge of having to fill up a vast amount of empty space. However, the transformation of the former base into Brunswick Landing, a bustling hub for tech businesses, manufacturers, call centres, and service businesses, has been a success.

Brunswick Landing has exceeded expectations, attracting innovative companies and creating a vibrant community. By 2016, it had already surpassed its initial goal of replacing the 700 lost jobs, doubling that number to reach approximately 1,500 jobs. The overall payroll from Landing businesses is now comparable to the total civilian and military payroll during the base's operation.

The success of Brunswick Landing can be attributed to its ability to attract both domestic and international businesses. Levesque emphasised their focus on marketing to other countries and attracting companies that had no prior presence in Maine. This strategy has paid off, with well-known companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Honda Jets, and Bombardier expressing interest in potential projects.

The redevelopment of the former naval base has not only replaced the jobs lost but has also brought new life and economic growth to the region. With the continued success of Brunswick Landing, the number of jobs is expected to increase further, and several thousand people are projected to live and work in this thriving community.

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