165 Washington Ave | Northern Burner Supply Redevelopment | Portland

PWMFlyer said:
In the Press Herald today, Redfern has filed an application to the MDEP regarding beneficial use of construction soil from the Washington Ave site to 115 Lancaster and 103 Chestnut. Interesting.
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I don't understand...
 
Redfern owns the building lots at 115 Lancaster and 103 Chestnut which are contaminated with high concentrates of metals due to a former junkyard and other former businesses. To build on these lots, they will need to do a Vrap which requires fill. So, looks like that they will start construction on the Washington ave lot, use the construction fill from the site and use it by spreading it on the other two lots to make it able to construct
 
I think Redfern also needs to raise the ground floor elevation on the Lancaster Street parcels in order to mitigate flooding risks – which is why you see steps leading up to the building entrance on the renderings.

Banks won't finance a building that's expected to be below the high-tide line before the end of the mortgage's term.

Storing fill on the Lancaster Street site might also help "preload" the clay soils under Bayside, which are going to pose a challenge to tall buildings here:
https://civildigital.com/ground-improvement-soil-pre-compression-ground-preloading/
 
Yes, drove by it yesterday. It's also evident when the porta potties arrive too (lol). This area of Washington Ave. is going to change fast. The building that had Maine Distilling is going to be renovated and a few more businesses are going to be created within, including for food, etc. I think the Amvets building across the street will be sold and razed (they did have it on the market for 1.2 million), and the small lot to the left has a building going up soon with several modern condos. Next to that, the weed shop building, and after that the bottle redemption center.

Headed east further down the street, I went to Terlingua BBQ recently and had no idea it was this good and fun to experience--especially the back patio area. It's enormous and varied back there--quite nature-like. Next door to this is Izakaya Minato and it was nominated for another James Beard award this year. That's a great foodie 1-2 punch. By 2031 Roux is planning for 8,000 students at its new campus and with Wash. Ave on the peninsula it will be a 5 min E-bike ride or 10-15 walk after the new connecting pedestrian/bike bridge is built next to Tukey's Bridge. I spoke to someone at DOT about it. It's slated for construction in the summer of 2028. Roux discussed it during it's public ground breaking, and it will lead into their landscaping and fun marina.

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nomc said:
Renderings that are currently up on the Redfern website. I think this is going to be a great looking building, but I'm wondering why the lower part of some of the windows appears to be metal?

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Hi Everyone! Wow. Reliving the last two years through this thread! It’s been a real challenge/rollercoaster with this one. The bottoms of the windows are integrated lovers for the Ephocas. There are 2 6” ducts for each heat pump. We did same thing at The Casco.

And correct on the soils. We need to raise the site at Kennebec and remove soils from Washington Ave. win/win!

I can’t believe how long this one has taken. Hoping to coincide with opening of Roux. Which looks absolutely insane from the water. Really an amazing asset for Portland!

In meantime might want to avoid Washington Ave for commuting over next 24 months! We will definitely be shutting down to one lane - like next two weeks - on and off for duration. I’ll try to keep this thread updated! ~ C
 
I mean, if you're coming towards the waterfront area from Tukey's Bridge, and have the option of taking the Eastern Prom to get there... why would you not?

Signed, someone who has done that many times :) .
 
MarkHB said:
I mean, if you're coming towards the waterfront area from Tukey's Bridge, and have the option of taking the Eastern Prom to get there... why would you not?

Signed, someone who has done that many times :) .
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I wonder how this will impact METRO routes 7 , 9A, 9B, and the BREEZ which all run down that stretch of Washington.
 
The original Route 7 was named Veranda St., and ran via Forest and Ocean Aves. to Lunt's Corner, and then to Veranda via Washington. Personally, I think they should restore that routing, bringing back service to Back Cove and Cheverus.

BREEZ could run via Franklin.

That leaves the Nines, and I don't see any way they aren't screwed.
 
MarkHB said:
The original Route 7 was named Veranda St., and ran via Forest and Ocean Aves. to Lunt's Corner, and then to Veranda via Washington. Personally, I think they should restore that routing, bringing back service to Back Cove and Cheverus.

BREEZ could run via Franklin.

That leaves the Nines, and I don't see any way they aren't screwed.
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We are communicating with Metro. Trying to keep them in the loop. ~ C
 
cneal said:
OK I haven't found renderings but I did find this historic photo of what the existing building used to look like, when it was a car barn for the Portland & Yarmouth Electric Railway (the left bay appears to have been demolished but I wonder if the sign on the pediment is still there under the metal siding?)

The Portland & Yarmouth Electric used to run streetcar service every 15 minutes along what is now Route 88 from Portland through Falmouth Foreside to downtown Yarmouth:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_and_Yarmouth_Electric_Railway

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During demo, is the @Redfern team keeping an eye out for any interesting historic details? I wouldn’t be surprised if that pediment is granite. Maybe it’s underneath the current siding? If it is, would be cool to see it somehow incorporated into the new building.
 
God I hope that equipment doesn't get tangled up in those low hanging power lines.
 

Off-Market Acquisition Clears Path for Transformational 325-Unit Portland Housing Project​



Portland, ME (July 2026) — Redfern Tavata, LLC (dba Redfern Properties) purchased 165 Washington Ave in Portland, ME on June 18, 2026. The 1.53± acre parcel located on Munjoy Hill was the long-time home to the Northern Burner Supply Co, a wholesale heating and electrical company. Prior to Northern Burner, the property was used as a trolley depot for a Portland-to-Yarmouth trolley, a Model T Ford dealership, and a horse-and-buggy taxi service.

“We are pleased to be launching Tavata, likely Portland’s largest ever workforce housing development, to be built without any public subsidy. Redfern is proud of our commitment to the dense walkable housing that will support a sustainable future for Portland. We are appreciative of the City of Portland for its transparent regulatory process, and grateful for the patience of the Seller while we battled various headwinds,” said Jonathan Culley of Redfern Properties.

The transaction closed after a three-year planning process by Redfern, and construction of Tavata, the 325-unit apartment building is already underway.  The project was made possible by Portland’s recent ReCode, a revamp of the City’s Land Use Ordinance.

This transaction was organized off-market by The Boulos Company. The buyer was represented by Drew Sigfridson, SIOR, and the seller was represented by John Finegan and Tony McDonald, CCIM, SIOR.

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