Project Details

The Downs in Scarborough, Maine is a transformative 525-acre mixed-use development designed to become the town’s new downtown hub. Envisioned by a group of local developers, the project was created to restore the charm and identity of a small-town center while addressing the region’s housing shortage. The master plan includes residential neighborhoods, commercial buildings, parks, grocery stores, recreational facilities, and a future innovation district.

To support this ambitious growth, the project required a stormwater management solution that could meet strict regulatory requirements, preserve space for future development, and protect nearby wetlands.

What Convergent Water Technologies Provided

To meet the site’s stormwater needs, Convergent Water Technologies provided the FocalPoint High-Performance Modular Biofiltration System (HPMBS). The system was chosen for its small footprint, high treatment efficiency, and seamless integration into the streetscape.

Installed within narrow 7-foot-wide esplanades along roadways, the FocalPoint HPMBS offered localized stormwater filtration without the need for large detention basins. The system was paired with Rain Guardian pre-treatment devices, which captured sediment and debris before water entered the biofilters. Beneath the surface, subsurface storage chambers such as R-Tank provided additional stormwater detention to manage flow and volume.

These combined technologies offered a scalable, modular approach to treating and detaining stormwater while preserving buildable land for housing and community amenities.

Why The Downs Development Team Chose FocalPoint

The engineers and developers selected FocalPoint and associated systems for several key reasons:

• Space Efficiency – Enabled filtration within narrow curbside esplanades, eliminating the need for traditional bioswales or large detention basins.
• High-Flow Performance – FocalPoint’s engineered media filters runoff at rates up to 100 inches per hour, reducing the required footprint by up to 80% compared to traditional bioretention.
• Design Versatility – Surface treatment areas blended into the landscape with mulch beds and native plantings, maintaining visual appeal while delivering stormwater function.
• Construction Flexibility – Accommodated an aggressive construction schedule with multiple contractors working concurrently across the site.
• Environmental Protection – Protected nearby wetlands by reducing phosphorus and total suspended solids (TSS) at the source with sixteen strategically placed FocalPoint systems.

By integrating FocalPoint with subsurface storage and pre-treatment solutions, The Downs successfully met its stormwater goals while preserving the space and aesthetic necessary for a thriving, walkable community. This project serves as a model for large-scale developments seeking performance, flexibility, and sustainability from their stormwater infrastructure.