The redevelopment of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station has reached a milestone 10 years after the base’s closure, with the 3,200-acre property now home to more than 100 businesses, 600 housing units, and a thriving mix of education, recreation, and cultural institutions that have transformed a military installation into a vibrant community asset.
The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which oversees the property now known as Brunswick Landing, released a 10-year progress report this week showing that the development has attracted more than $500 million in public and private investment and created approximately 2,500 jobs.
“When the Navy left, a lot of people thought Brunswick was in trouble,” said MRRA executive director Steve Levesque. “What’s happened instead is one of the most successful base redevelopments in the country.”
Major tenants include Southern Maine Community College’s Brunswick campus, the Maine State Music Theatre, the Midcoast Regional Airport, and a cluster of technology and manufacturing companies including Modula, an automated storage systems manufacturer, and Tempus Jets, an aircraft maintenance company.
The property’s housing component has been particularly impactful, with a mix of market-rate and affordable apartments, townhomes, and renovated former military housing helping to address the region’s housing shortage. A new 80-unit senior living community opened this year.
“Housing was a key piece of the puzzle,” said Brunswick town manager John Eldridge. “You can’t have a functioning community without places for people to live.”
The recreation and cultural amenities have become regional draws. The property includes an 18-hole disc golf course, miles of trails, a community garden, and a revitalized officers’ club that now serves as an event venue. The Maine State Music Theatre’s summer season attracts thousands of visitors to the property.
Challenges remain, including environmental cleanup of contaminated areas, infrastructure maintenance costs, and the need for continued investment in utilities and roads. Federal environmental remediation is ongoing at several sites where military activities left contamination.
“This is a multi-decade project, and we’re still in the middle chapters,” Levesque said. “But the trajectory is clear — Brunswick Landing is a success story that’s still being written.”
MRRA is currently marketing several remaining development parcels, including waterfront sites along the New Meadows River that could support mixed-use or hospitality development.
