General Portland Discussion

Compared to other major metro areas, we are doing much better. The buildings in the ME Mall area aka Aetna, BCBS, Southborough, and other campus style buildings must be repurposed into housing as one option. The TD Bank building in Falmouth is empty. Boston and NYC are hurting when it comes to office towers. I don't think working in the office full time is coming back anytime soon.
 
PWMFlyer said:
Compared to other major metro areas, we are doing much better. The buildings in the ME Mall area aka Aetna, BCBS, Southborough, and other campus style buildings must be repurposed into housing as one option. The TD Bank building in Falmouth is empty. Boston and NYC are hurting when it comes to office towers. I don't think working in the office full time is coming back anytime soon.
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It's -very- hard to convert a big suburban office building into housing. They have totally different floorplates which at best results in a lot of windowless interior rooms. Plus, retrofitting plumbing / electrical systems is a complex and costly endeavor.

The trend going forward is more companies leasing smaller spaces as hybrid work becomes the norm. The fact that suburban office vacancies are so much higher is indicative of bad land use and low desirability for these types of spaces. Companies recognize that most workers want to be close to the amenities of downtown.
 
One location I didn't see on that Boulos list: 39 Commercial (the Galt Block / former Auto Europe building), adjacent to the former site for MPBS. Has anyone heard of any activity around that space?
 
PWMFlyer said:
It's still slated to be a hotel.
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Damn... that's going to be a hell of a remodel! The place is full of low-clearance doorways, load-bearing brick walls, the whole shebang. Literally, it's got these 18-inch thick interior solid brick walls that massive (maybe 6x12?) 150-year old wooden beams (I believe I've seen one photo showing that the building predates the 1866 Great Fire) just rest on like they're on a shelf. Auto Europe and their former owner did a great job preserving the place when they did the renovation, but at the expense of having to shake bits of ancient wood out of your keyboard when you came in in the morning.
 
DanielPWM19 said:
I'm sure most of you have heard, but looks like the Gorham Connector project has been cancelled.

www.mainepublic.org

Maine Turnpike drops plans for Gorham Connector

State transportation authorities will study alternatives to ease traffic congestion west of Portland.
www.mainepublic.org www.mainepublic.org
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Why not consider an alternate rout from the Scarborough exit to the Gorham Bypass. This option would disturb far less existing built area and would cross more land already owned by the various municipalities. This would also create a more direct highway access for the proposed FedEx transfer station at the old Beach Ridge Speedway and users would also incur a toll on 95 helping to pay for the construction.

Gorham Connector Alternate-Layout1.jpg


Option 2
Gorham Connector Alternate-Layout2.jpg
 
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I'd like to see more on this idea for Portland. Use an existing structure (the affordable and bland housing complex behind the current Roux, for one) and add a little color and build an addition that looks different, but complements. This one is in Camden. Everything older and existing doesn't have to appear so ordinary. Color can be good. And the same idea with interiors too. I could never live in an old colonial that has not been given a little fun--and tech. Even if the restoration is flawless, why live in a museum? And if you are quite old, you are not living in the past. Everything is in the present, so enjoy its benefits. I think that the Danforth Inn before it became Blind Tiger and ruined it's brilliant and fun interior design, was perhaps one of the best designed interiors that I have ever seen--and I've seen a lot.

https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/hi...d-for-a-midcoast-music-schools-permanent-home

Bay_Chamber_Exteriors_002_proof_FPOhr.jpg
 
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IMG_6480.jpeg

Finally! Am shocked the elderly owner is actually spending money on the exterior restoration but it is long overdue and the Trelawny Building was actually the tallest in Maine for a short period.
 
TC_zoid said:
I'd like to see more on this idea for Portland. Use an existing structure (the affordable and bland housing complex behind the current Roux, for one) and add a little color and build an addition that looks different, but complements. This one is in Camden. Everything older and existing doesn't have to appear so ordinary. Color can be good. And the same idea with interiors too. I could never live in an old colonial that has not been given a little fun--and tech. Even if the restoration is flawless, why live in a museum? And if you are quite old, you are not living in the past. Everything is in the present, so enjoy its benefits. I think that the Danforth Inn before it became Blind Tiger and ruined it's brilliant and fun interior design, was perhaps one of the best designed interiors that I have ever seen--and I've seen a lot.

https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/hi...d-for-a-midcoast-music-schools-permanent-home

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This is an example of horrible design.
 
PlantArch said:
This is an example of horrible design.
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I keep saying this over and over again. Good or great architecture is primarily about improving the user experience. In this case it has done that. The same goes for humans, too. The exterior is hopefully nice to have and look at, but if the inside and use case fails than what really do you have?
 
TC_zoid said:
I keep saying this over and over again. Good or great architecture is primarily about improving the user experience. In this case it has done that. The same goes for humans, too. The exterior is hopefully nice to have and look at, but if the inside and use case fails than what really do you have?
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Except you are forgetting that aesthetics is a major influence on user experience. I've been a designer (landscape, interior and exterior, graphic) for over 45 years. A mis-step in design of any one aspect of a project can ruin the entire experience for the end user.
 
MaineBiz article reported that 2 condo projects are on hold. 1 Apartment
Commerical Street next to the old Bills Pizza. Claim oversaturation in Condos and street crime
Vaughan Street project in West End due to materials and IZ zone(shocker)
Washington Ave apartments due to IZ zone requirements and Materials
The IZ zone aka the "Great New Green Deal" expires in Jan 2026
 
185 Commercial Street is disappointing to hear but the New Green Deal has been a financial dealbreaker for many of the developers.
 
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