Wondering what daily life feels like in Scarborough’s newest neighborhoods? If you want sidewalks, green space, and everyday convenience, The Downs and Dunstan Crossing both deliver in distinct ways. In this guide, you’ll see how each community is planned, what housing looks like, what you can walk to, and where you can get outside fast. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which setting fits your lifestyle best. Let’s dive in.
Quick snapshot: The Downs and Dunstan Crossing
The Downs is a large, mixed‑use redevelopment of the former Scarborough Downs racetrack. The developer highlights a master plan with a Town Center, an Innovation District, and significant open space. The project is widely described as spanning several hundred acres, with the developer citing 577 acres, while municipal and press materials often note a slightly smaller project area. You can explore the developer’s overview of trails, open space, and future phases on The Downs “Discover” page, and review the town’s planning context on Scarborough’s project page.
Dunstan Crossing is a traditional‑neighborhood development by Chamberlain Homes near the Route 1 corridor. It features front porches, sidewalks, alleys, small greens, and a mix of single‑family and condo products. A small retail and services cluster called The Village at Dunstan Crossing fronts Route 1, giving you easy access to everyday conveniences. Get a feel for the neighborhood design and home types on Chamberlain Homes’ community page.
Living in The Downs: town center energy
The Downs is designed to feel like a new town hub. Architect and master‑planning materials describe a pedestrian‑oriented Town Center with tree‑lined sidewalks, an active green, and flexible shared‑street spaces for events. Mixed‑use buildings bring retail at street level with apartments above, creating a short‑walk lifestyle. You can see the public‑realm vision in the architect’s project overview at PCA’s Scarborough Downs page.
Daily needs are close. Local reporting noted that Maine’s first Costco opened at The Downs in November 2023. The same coverage and developer updates have highlighted activity by IDEXX and an announced Allagash Brewing tasting room project. InterMed and Market Basket have also been listed as coming tenants. For a current snapshot of anchors and housing progress, review recent local coverage of The Downs’ first mixed‑use building and anchors.
Housing at The Downs spans many product types. Reporting in 2024 cited several hundred completed units since 2019, with more in the pipeline. Options include apartments, condos, townhomes, single‑family homes, senior housing, and a memory‑care facility. Workforce apartments have been built to create attainable options for local employees, closely tied to the Innovation District’s job base.
Open space and trails are a core feature. The developer highlights about 200 acres of open space and more than 10 miles of internal trails, with planned connections to the Eastern Trail and nearby conserved lands. The Downs also donated 25 acres to the Scarborough Land Trust, supporting long‑term conservation goals; see coverage of that gift in MaineBiz’s report on the land trust donation and explore the trail network vision on The Downs “Discover” page.
Finally, there is a strong municipal partnership. The Town of Scarborough has coordinated on planning, downtown‑creation goals, and TIF arrangements. If you like to understand the civic side of big projects, the town’s project hub is your best source for meeting minutes and official documents. Visit the Scarborough planning page for The Downs.
Living in Dunstan Crossing: village‑style ease
Dunstan Crossing leans into classic New England neighborhood form. Homes sit close to the street with welcoming front porches, sidewalks run throughout, and garages often load from alleys to keep streetscapes clean. The effect is simple and social, with pocket greens and short walks to services. For an overview of home styles and the community plan, start with Chamberlain Homes’ Dunstan Crossing page.
You will find a range of home types. The neighborhood includes detached single‑family homes, smaller Village Homes on compact lots, and condominium or duplex options. This mix supports low‑maintenance living for some buyers and classic single‑family layouts for others. Public records also show recent condo sales within Dunstan Crossing in 2022 through 2024, which can help you understand product age and turnover. See Scarborough’s revaluation sales file for recorded details in the town’s condo sales PDF.
Everyday convenience is part of the plan. The Village at Dunstan Crossing, fronting Route 1, houses neighborhood restaurants and services, giving you quick options without getting on the highway. Tenants can change over time, so it is smart to scout the current lineup when you tour.
You are also well placed for the outdoors. Dunstan Crossing sits near the Scarborough Marsh and is a short drive to beaches like Higgins, Scarborough Beach State Park, and Pine Point. The Eastern Trail is a major regional path for biking and walking, and The Downs’ master plan calls out connections to it. Learn more about the route and access points from the Eastern Trail Alliance.
Side by side: which vibe fits you?
Both places are walkable and close to nature, but they offer different scales and rhythms. Use these comparisons to picture your daily life:
Scale and setting
- The Downs: A large, master‑planned district with a Town Center, Innovation District, multiple housing types, and an extensive trail network. See the project framing on The Downs “Discover” page.
- Dunstan Crossing: A neighborhood‑scale community with traditional‑neighborhood design, porches, sidewalks, and a small Route 1 village cluster.
Housing mix
- The Downs: Apartments, condos, townhomes, single‑family, senior living, and workforce units, with hundreds of homes already delivered per local reporting.
- Dunstan Crossing: Primarily owner‑occupied single‑family and condo products, with varied floor plans and porch‑forward Village Homes per Chamberlain Homes.
Day‑to‑day amenities
- The Downs: Planned short walks to retail, restaurants, and employment in the Innovation District. Costco opened in 2023, and other anchors have been announced in press and developer materials.
- Dunstan Crossing: Neighborhood restaurants and services within The Village at Dunstan Crossing along Route 1.
Trails and open space
- The Downs: About 200 acres of open space and 10+ miles of trails highlighted by the developer, plus a 25‑acre land trust donation. Review the conservation and trail vision on The Downs site and MaineBiz.
- Dunstan Crossing: Sidewalks and greens internally, with quick access to regional assets like the Scarborough Marsh and the Eastern Trail.
Home types and how they live
Here is a simple way to think about the fit:
- If you want a short‑walk lifestyle with future town‑center energy, explore The Downs’ mixed‑use core and nearby residential pockets.
- If you prefer a quieter, porch‑forward neighborhood with classic streets, Dunstan Crossing delivers that village feel.
- If you like low‑maintenance living, both areas offer condo options. The Downs also includes apartments and senior living choices.
- If you want sidewalks, green space, and dog‑friendly routes, you will find internal paths in both, with The Downs offering a wider trail network and planned links to regional routes.
Touring tips for both neighborhoods
- Walk it, not just drive it. Spend 20 to 30 minutes on foot to feel block‑to‑block character and traffic patterns.
- Scout daily essentials. Note where you would get groceries, a quick bite, and coffee within a short drive or walk.
- Trace your outdoor time. Find trailheads, greens, and the best loop for a morning walk or an evening bike ride.
- If you are comparing home types, ask for recent recorded sales and year‑built details. Scarborough’s public records include condo sales and can give helpful context.
- Circle back at a different time of day. The rhythm can change between mornings, evenings, and weekends.
The bottom line
You cannot go wrong with either address if you value sidewalks, open space, and coastal access. The Downs leans larger and more urban‑village, with a growing Town Center and an Innovation District that brings jobs close to home. Dunstan Crossing feels intimate and porch‑friendly, with a simple Route 1 village cluster and easy access to the marsh and beaches. If you want a local, boutique advisor to help you compare floor plans, resale data, and upcoming phases, connect with Melissa McKersie for hands‑on guidance.
FAQs
What is The Downs in Scarborough?
- The Downs is a multi‑phase redevelopment of the former Scarborough Downs racetrack that combines a Town Center, an Innovation District, housing, and extensive open space, as detailed on The Downs site and in local press.
How large is The Downs, and why do acreage figures vary?
- The developer cites 577 acres, while municipal and trade materials sometimes refer to a smaller project area; the difference reflects how parcels are counted. You can review the town’s perspective on Scarborough’s planning page.
What housing options will I find in Dunstan Crossing?
- Dunstan Crossing includes detached single‑family homes, porch‑forward Village Homes on compact lots, and condo or duplex products, as outlined by Chamberlain Homes, with recent transactions shown in the town’s condo sales records.
Are there trails and open spaces connected to these neighborhoods?
- Yes. The Downs highlights about 200 acres of open space and 10+ miles of internal trails with planned links to regional routes, while Dunstan Crossing offers sidewalks and quick access to the Scarborough Marsh and the Eastern Trail.
How close are The Downs and Dunstan Crossing to Scarborough beaches?
- Both neighborhoods are a short drive to local beaches such as Higgins Beach, Scarborough Beach State Park, and Pine Point, a point often noted in The Downs materials.
Is there local employment near The Downs?
- Yes. The Downs includes an Innovation District with corporate and light industrial uses. Companies like IDEXX have a presence nearby, as covered in local reporting.
