I read Karen Vachon’s column in the April 5 edition of The Current, and was immediately struck by her insightful commentary on the state of Scarborough’s prime corridor, Route 1.

In the 15 years my family has lived in this town, we have witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of new homes spring up. We’ve witnessed the new middle school development, the renovation of our elementary schools and the recent expansion of our high school, a new Town Hall (our first taxes were paid at the little one that is pictured on the current town report), and other new growth. My children were young when we could skate and sled in wild areas that are now mature neighborhoods.

In all that time, though, I have never seen any sign of life in the Orion Center. I cannot imagine why it lies empty, with its large parking lot and footprint, while a brand new office building (though quite attractively designed) was built right across the street. Even the old K-Mart plaza which was still active when we moved to town, was quickly reworked into the beautiful medical campus that now sits in its place.

Why, then, do we still have this emtpy space and other vacant, though prime, locations? There have been some business successes, for sure. Tim Hortons, Sullivan Tires, Chicago Dogs – all add to a needed diversity that help make Scarborough a more “complete” residential living experience.

Why can’t a savvy developer do the same with the Orion Center? Why can’t its owners donate a portion of the space to Ruth’s Reusable Resources? That might stimulate other businesses to consider it.

Leigh T. Whittemore

Scarborough