Cassidy Point

The "Yard 8" that @F-Line to Dudley references above is the new track and the tiny container loading platform that MaineDOT built a few years ago, between Commercial and the new cold storage warehouse, in conjunction with Eimskip's arrival in Portland. As he observes, it hasn't gotten much use. (as an aside - has *anyone* here ever seen that platform used to actually load/unload train cars?)

Historically, Yard 8 was a much bigger waterfront yard that stretched from Cassidy Point to the old Million Dollar Bridge – it's labelled on this mid-20th century map of the Portland Terminal Company's yards:

 
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Some Yard 8 photos showing how much that portion of the Portland waterfront has changed during the past 50 years.
 
The West End residents that recently moaned and complained about a modern cold storage facility nearby probably have no idea of what the locals lived with and tolerated back in the port's industrial heyday. I am personally pleased that we have come along way from the decades of unchecked pollution, chemicals and contaminated water. The Portland waterfront and Back Cove ecosystem along with important environmental safeguards have come a long way since my childhood days.
 
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All very interesting! Love the historic photos as always. Hopefully the other buyer will be announced here soon. Feel like we can’t have a true discussion until all the pieces are on the table. ~ C
 
Could the city/state use the old rail line/routes for a new light rail line? Have a loop right around the peninsula? Not sure how the PROWAG standards would impact such a line. That corridor from Thompson Point to the new Northeastern campus would ideal.
Cassidy Point would be a great spot for the Hearts of Pine new soccer stadium. Good luck to their owner's on getting this stadium built!
 
If the soccer stadium doesn't happen......I hope that there is a REAL alternate plan WITH FUNDING to make this a legit and PROFITABLE working waterfront operation. There is nothing worse than turning down a golden goose....for a stuffed turkey.
 
Seanflynn78 said:
Could the city/state use the old rail line/routes for a new light rail line? Have a loop right around the peninsula? Not sure how the PROWAG standards would impact such a line. That corridor from Thompson Point to the new Northeastern campus would ideal.
Click to expand...
This would be tough; the Union Branch (the one that goes over the black trestle at St. John St. and then behind the ballpark and Oaks) has been officially abandoned and is undergoing trail construction.
 
The waterfront defenders are afraid that the truth may be told about the reality of what is going on. The same could be said of the trolley...LOL
The seafood industry is in a downfall, processing and lobsters are moving to Canada. Its getting harder to fish..
New Yard is a bright spot on the waterfront, but does not involve longshoremen.
The storage facilities at Cassidy are not full, very little activity due to the mills
Cianbro is seeing little activity since the building of the floating units.
How full is the the Cold Storage? Not to full capacity
The Intermodal facility has not been used in over 5+ years since Poland Spring used Eimskip, the State moved that to Waterville, now that is done.
Eimskip is a bright spot on the Waterfront.
Cruise Ships are the other bright spot on the other end.
Remember when Merrill wanted to build cement silos? the outcry from neighbors...
How about the BIW drydock? short lived and sold to the China.
I don't remember the dredge project including Cassidy?
 
This ends the working waterfront debate, right?

www.pressherald.com

Sprague Energy secures pier operator at Portland’s Cassidy Point

Keeping the pier in working waterfront is a key piece of the Hearts of Pine's plans to redevelop the property into a 10,000-seat stadium.
www.pressherald.com www.pressherald.com

For those that don't have a PPH subscription:

Sprague Energy has agreed to sell its 600-foot Cassidy Point pier to McAllister Towing, keeping maritime operations next to the proposed 10,000-seat Portland Hearts of Pine soccer stadium.
  • Supporters say the uses can coexist. McAllister, which owns Portland Tugboat, plans to expand marine services at the pier and has discussed sharing the site with the team.
  • Waterfront concerns remain. The Maine Port Authority and other opponents argue that cargo operations need the adjoining land and warehouses—not just the pier—which the stadium redevelopment would replace.
  • Sprague says industrial use is no longer viable. Vessel traffic has fallen from roughly 40–50 ships annually to 6–8, and aging infrastructure limits the pier’s capabilities. It plans to relocate remaining operations.
  • The stadium still needs rezoning. More Planning Board review is coming, and the City Council has final authority. The pier sale’s financial terms were not disclosed.
The agreement preserves a maritime role for the pier, but it does not settle the debate over losing the rest of the site’s cargo-handling capacity.
 
Whenever I saw that big pile of coal I thought….dang that is a great maritime use of that land.

This is all about control of that property and nothing more. Seems like some want a piece of the action but are unwilling to pay for it. And it pisses me off that everyone is so interested all of a sudden yet when Coal Mountain was there for years….no one would touch it with a 10 foot pole.
 
Dr. StrangeHat said:
This ends the working waterfront debate, right?

www.pressherald.com

Sprague Energy secures pier operator at Portland’s Cassidy Point

Keeping the pier in working waterfront is a key piece of the Hearts of Pine's plans to redevelop the property into a 10,000-seat stadium.
www.pressherald.com www.pressherald.com

For those that don't have a PPH subscription:

Sprague Energy has agreed to sell its 600-foot Cassidy Point pier to McAllister Towing, keeping maritime operations next to the proposed 10,000-seat Portland Hearts of Pine soccer stadium.
  • Supporters say the uses can coexist. McAllister, which owns Portland Tugboat, plans to expand marine services at the pier and has discussed sharing the site with the team.
  • Waterfront concerns remain. The Maine Port Authority and other opponents argue that cargo operations need the adjoining land and warehouses—not just the pier—which the stadium redevelopment would replace.
  • Sprague says industrial use is no longer viable. Vessel traffic has fallen from roughly 40–50 ships annually to 6–8, and aging infrastructure limits the pier’s capabilities. It plans to relocate remaining operations.
  • The stadium still needs rezoning. More Planning Board review is coming, and the City Council has final authority. The pier sale’s financial terms were not disclosed.
The agreement preserves a maritime role for the pier, but it does not settle the debate over losing the rest of the site’s cargo-handling capacity.
Click to expand...
Culley, Sprague, and McAllister know what they are doing. McAllister will have land that will substantially increase in value. Increased property value means a bigger asset to borrow against (money borrowed against property or stocks is not taxed). And maybe even the new train station (though I dislike the new location) can see additional trains scheduled or time-changed for soccer games and concerts. Portland has one of the most dynamic waterfronts in the country. It's the heartbeat of the city now, not Congress Street. Fishing and lobstering boats, ferries, a fish pier, dry cargo and cold storage, cruise ships, hotels galore, restaurants and bars, sailboats, and yachts function as an interwoven dynamic and guess what? It works. The new waterfront park will had something too. Next year the city will see a nearly 30% increase in cruise ship visits (Bar Harbor will be dead as they have zero confirmed bookings while Portland has 101). I think we need to be thankful for ALL of this. What other city has this kind of waterfront dynamic, one tethered to so many interesting islands? From the water, we're also close to Boston, Cape Cod, Newport, and New York. It's only going to get busier and better here (the new Roux will have a marina too).
 
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What I find humorous is that tugboat looking vessels were pier side in the rendering and I don't think any of us picked up on the McAllister connection. :)
 
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