Failed Development Projects | Portland

[PWMFlyer]

The only people that complained about that project was the residents of Franklin Towers that would block their view.. Must be nice for subsidized housing to have a million dollar view...

 

[DanielPWM19]

I was randomly thinking about this project this morning. How do you think the general NIMBY and transplant populace would react to this being proposed today, but as residential instead of commercial?

I think part of the failure was also due to an increase in the "meal tax" or something along those lines, which voters struck down. I think part of the tax increase was supposed to subsidize this development. But I can't entirely recall.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

I think part of the failure was also due to an increase in the "meal tax" or something along those lines, which voters struck down. I think part of the tax increase was supposed to subsidize this development. But I can't entirely recall.

That was Boulos hotel/convention center/arena proposal in the 2000's. The one I replied to was the original huge Lincoln Square project proposed in the '80's. It was scaled back multiple times due to outcry over its size, and It was ultimately doomed by '90-'91 recession.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

Ironically, the Top of the Old Port parking lot exists today, because the lot was cleared in preparation for that development.

 

[DanielPWM19]

That was Boulos hotel/convention center/arena proposal in the 2000's. The one I replied to was the original huge Lincoln Square project proposed in the '80's. It was scaled back multiple times due to outcry over its size, and It was ultimately doomed by '90-'91 recession.

I think part of the confusion is ... the 90's was "Lincoln Square". The 2000's Convention Center was proposed to be named the "Lincoln Center"

I was in Commercial Lending downtown 2003-2006 when the "Lincoln Center" was being proposed.

Sand Castle-esque buildings was to be Lincoln Square. The interesting corner tower was to be Lincoln Center.

I was pretty excited about the design of Lincoln Center as it would have been entirely different for the skyline. I was bummed when it fell through. Sad to think of how many developments fell through due to recessions. Like the Cotton Street development that would have fit into the Old Port like a dream.

 

[Portlander]

I'm with you Daniel. I was also disappointed not only for the unique design of the tower but the loss of a first class convention center and hotel.

 

[Cosakita18]

Found this in a library archive. This seems to be a pre-2007 concept for an office building / Transportation Center (??) on Marginal Way where the InterMed building and "The Linden" now stand.

Notice the rail line coming into the building from the north. No idea where that line would connect to but at least this architect didn't let reality get in the way of artistry

 

[nomc]

Well obviously they would tunnel through Munjoy, under Casco Bay and connect farther up the coast

 

[Max]

Huh, never seen that one before. It looks like it's circa 2000 based on the artist signature (C. Michael Lewis?) in the median. Kind of a suburban monstrosity, but I do like Marginal Way with a green median!

 

[cneal]

C. Michael Lewis did a lot of fanciful drawings like this one – I think it would be a stretch to call it a real proposal, more like wishful thinking.

Looks like the date next to his signature (in the median of Marginal Way) was 2000, which would put it in the same era as the "New Vision For Bayside" plan.

 

[PWMFlyer]

That was going to be the Amtrak run to the north. Elevated till uhaul then a new bridge would have been built near the bean plant.

 

[markhb]

Looks like the date next to his signature (in the median of Marginal Way) was 2000, which would put it in the same era as the "New Vision For Bayside" plan.

I agree. That vision included, among other things, renaming Marginal Way to Bayside Avenue (which I hated with the passion of a thousand suns), and I imagine the median was part of that idea.

The train was an initial idea for the path to take the Downeaster to Brunswick: follow the Union Branch, then cross the mouth of Back Cove and connect to the Grand Trunk (since I can never remember what it's actual name is now) to Yarmouth Junction, then north to Brunswick from there. The idea was that putting the train next to I-295 would make it its own best advertisement, plus avoid all the grade crossings in the Oakdale/Highlands area. MaineDOT, so far as I know, still owns, or owned until recently, the intended ROW alongside the interstate.