Eastern Waterfront

The proposed condo buildings in the neighborhood may be stalled indefinitely, but there is one building under construction besides the massive parking garage. This is going to be an extended-stay hotel, on the corner of Fore and the rebuilt extension of Hancock Street - right next to the Shipyard brewery and the new garage:

marriott.jpg


This came from the website for the Bayhouse condos (proposed for the Village Cafe site). They have an interactive map of the area's proposed developments (http://www.bayhouseportland.com/devmap.html), including this rendering associated with the Jordan Meats plant. Is this an updated proposal, or another view of the failed Westin idea?

procaccianti.jpg
 
The second pic is the old westin plan.

"The proposed condo buildings in the neighborhood may be stalled indefinitely,"

Are you talking about Riverwalk? Please don't tell me you've heard something about that no being built. Why would they spend the money to do the garage if they weren't going to make money off of the condos/retail?

I had never seen that first pic you posted. Is that the Marriot?
 
Yes, the first image is the new hotel under construction.

I believe that the Watermark developers were required to build the garage as part of their agreement with the city to acquire the land for development - the city wanted it open in time for the opening of the cruise ship terminal next door.

These guys aren't going to build a luxury condo building on speculation in this market. I'd expect that they're going to wait until they have deposits on most of the units before they begin construction, and in this housing market, that will probably at least a year from now. They've invested a lot in the plan, the garage, and the land already, and the project will happen eventually. But they're not going to sink millions of dollars more into building, maintaining, and paying taxes on a half-empty building. Same goes for the Bayhouse, which seems to be marketing itself more aggressively around town - that one is also slightly more affordable, so it may have a better chance of starting before Watermark does.

I suspect that the Watermark developers are more likely to begin construction on their planned office building next to the garage, on India Street, first. But they'll also want to secure leases for most of that space before they begin, and that's also looking less likely in the face of a recession.
 
The hotel is bigger looking than I thought it would be. Do they just recycle the same plans for buildings down there? That's pretty bland. Reminds me a little of the Portwalk project in Portsmouth but that one looks much better.

Any word on what businesses are going in the parking garage? Should be open in a few months and I'm sure they want the retail open as soon as possible.
 
I'm sure it will include a dunkin or starbucks. :p

I also noticed that all the designs, both in progress and ones that have been scrapped, look exactly the same.

I think there is a lot of potential for creating some sort of 'destination' in this area. Sure, hotels are great, but I think eventually we will have too many hotels and not enough attractions to draw people to town long enough to merit staying at a hotel. The old port is great but it's quite small.

I still think an aquarium in Portland would be cool, but then again we had to downsize the indoor public market and abandon the lovely building that once housed it because it didn't perform well enough. I just think we need some genuine attractions. Maybe a casino? downtown mall? amusement park? (random ideas)
 
Dowtown mall? No, we wouldn't want people coming intown to spend money, that would be a crime. Instead my options of buying a pair of jeans start at 100 bucks a pair down there now. You know, for the common folk.

Yeah, there isn't much to hold people's attention in the old port. Sure there are great restaurants and people can go on duckboats, but then what? Having a kid now I realize how unfriendly to kids it is. Seriously, where would you take kids to eat down there? Margarita's?

On a side note, thebollard.com says that Waterview might be alive again, in the original 12 story form. Yeah sure.
 
A downtown mall with some upscale shopping would be a smart move. As it is, there's really no upscale shopping in the Portland area. It would also put proposals for a dumb upscale Westbrook glorified outlet center with an ice skating rink to rest.

Margaritas is kid friendly; especially the one next to the civic center. I went out there on friday with some youngsters at 10:30pm (long story short, we were at an "event" which went later than I thought it would and everyone was hungry... I don't normally take kids out to eat at 10:30 on a friday night) and the hostess put us in the upstairs dining area where it really is quiet and kid friendly. Other than Margaritas, I don't know.

I know I will never return to Cinque Terre- mediocre "Italian" food in an even more mediocre setting and poor service. Kid friendly, it is not. Hey, there's always the children's museum.
 
You're better off going to Ribolitta for Italian. I actually like Cinque Terre's sister restaurant next door, Vignola. Perhaps it's more for the atmoshere and style of the place.

I at least hope some of these retail spaces in the "New Port" are a little more upscale but not these crazy upscale places that are overboard expensive. Seriously, can we just get a plain old Gap down here so I can pick up some t-shirts and maybe a pair of emergency jeans if I need them?
 
New Forecaster that came out today says that Ocean Properties bought the Jordan Meats site. They didn't reveal their plans. OP is the company that lost to Olympia for the maine state pier project. Ocean Properties has deep deep pockets and connections and they will do nothing less than grand at that site I'm sure. Can't wait to see what it is.
 
That's good to hear, The Jordan's factory is a sad sight. I wonder what it looks like inside an abonded hot dog factory?

And yeah, a Gap would be good for emergency jeans haha.
 
From the website for the Bayhouse

NEWS
Village Cafe Demolition: JUNE 2!

Sweet
 
The steel is going up now for the Marriot hotel.

Also, almost all the glass has been put in the garage next door. I really love how the first floor retail is all curved glass. Looks very very sharp.

The Maine Medical garage is almost 100% done. I really like the first floor glass retail area on congress street for it. I'm pretty sure the planning board made them do that. Not sure who would want to go in that spot. Maybe a coffee shop of some sorts.

Lastly, as reported on local food blogs, Andrew Zimmern and the Bizarre Foods crew were filming in Portland this past weekend. The episode will air on the Travel Channel in August. Most national coverage of Portland, good news.
 
Riverwalk hits a snag....

from the Press Herald:

Portland fears lawsuit could derail parts of Riverwalk plan

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The contested ownership of a parking garage might jeopardize commercial and residential projects in the East End.

By KELLEY BOUCHARD, Staff Writer

June 19, 2008

The Ocean Gateway parking garage project is nearing completion, and city officials say they have been assured it will open early next month.A partner's lawsuit might jeopardize plans by Riverwalk LLC to build a $100 million residential and commercial development in Portland's East End.

The lawsuit contests ownership of a 720-space parking garage, construction of which was sought by the city to spur redevelopment on the eastern waterfront.

Portland officials say Riverwalk partners have assured them that the $12 million parking garage is nearly finished and will open by early July.

But city officials say they are concerned that a disagreement between the developers and their financial backers may further delay or derail the remainder of the project, which includes 116 luxury condominiums, a five-story office building and a 40-unit apartment building.

"This project is really the centerpiece to the redevelopment of the eastern waterfront," City Manager Joseph Gray Jr. said Wednesday. "We understand that the real estate market is down, but we certainly hope they can resolve this lawsuit in a timely manner and resume their project as planned."

Fred Forsley, owner of Shipyard Brewing Co. and a partner in Riverwalk, filed the lawsuit against his Riverwalk partner, Drew Swenson, and Intercontinental Real Estate Corp., the Boston firm that agreed to finance the project. The suit was filed March 27 in Cumberland County Superior Court.

In the lawsuit, Forsley claims ownership of the parking garage, which is being built on brewery land at Middle, Hancock and Fore streets. A purchase agreement signed in September 2006 identifies Forsley as the future owner of the garage, according to the lawsuit.

Forsley disputes a Dec. 6 memorandum of agreement, signed by Swenson and Paul Nasser, Intercontinental's chief financial officer, which they claim changes the terms of the purchase agreement.

The memo conveys 95 percent of Riverwalk's assets to Intercontinental and gives the Boston firm 50 percent ownership of the parking garage. Forsley claims he never authorized the action outlined in the memo.

Forsley declined to comment Wednesday but his attorney, George Marcus of the Portland law firm Marcus, Clegg & Mistretta, issued a written statement.

"Mr. Forsley is not in a position to comment on the allegations of the complaint because of the pending litigation," Marcus wrote. "The issues raised by the complaint should not be interpreted as any lessening of Mr. Forsley's long-standing commitment to the successful development of the Ocean Gateway area in Portland. Mr. Forsley looks forward to being an integral player in this important development process."

Marcus said no court date is pending on the lawsuit.

Swenson and Nassar didn't return calls for comment.

The Portland City Council selected Riverwalk to build the parking garage through a competitive bidding process that attracted three other proposals. The garage was planned to serve the Ocean Gateway cruise-ship terminal, which opened in May, and other redevelopment anticipated on the eastern waterfront.

The Riverwalk plan covers a four-acre, two-block area that includes an acre of former city land at the extensions of Commercial and Hancock streets. The council agreed to sell the city land to Riverwalk for $885,000 in 2005.

The deal included a special zoning contract and a $5 million property tax break over 13 years. The city started rezoning the area in 2001 to promote commercial and residential redevelopment.

Gray said Swenson informed city officials last week that a management company has been lined up to operate the garage and that it will open around July 1. According to a lease agreement, 310 spaces in the new garage will be available to islanders.

However, island representatives say they've had little success contacting the developers to secure spots in the garage. They also say many of their neighbors cannot afford a monthly rental rate that's expected to top $100 per space.

In the past, islanders paid $50 to $75 per month to park on vacant city land that's now part of the Ocean Gateway complex.

"Many of us are beginning to feel the squeeze of this recession," said Michael Langella, chairman of the Peaks Island Advisory Council. "We already pay about 30 percent more for everything, and now this. Our way of life is increasingly under threat."

On Monday, the council approved a plan to issue parking stickers to islanders so they can park for free in 55 parking spaces on Thames and Hancock streets.
 
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I know it's already known that Riverwalk is in trouble, but if you look next to the garage where the office was going to go, they have sodded and grassed it all. Guess they're not planning to build anything on it anytime soon. I don't even think any of the retail spaces at the garage have been leased. I think the garage and those glass retail spots look great though.
 
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