Portland Bayside

I like it, though I'd like to see the white toned down a little. Maybe it's just the rendering, but it seems too bright.

For some reason it brings to mind the USM library, which I know a lot of people hated at first but eventually came to like.
 
Dr. StrangeHat said:
I like it, though I'd like to see the white toned down a little. Maybe it's just the rendering, but it seems too bright.

For some reason it brings to mind the USM library, which I know a lot of people hated at first but eventually came to like.
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Yeah, my biggest beef is with the perceived white color as well. This isn't Miami.

The red is kinda weird as well.......if those are units with balconies.........who the heck wants to step out on a balcony surrounded by bright red?!?!? If the red was an accent color on the side of the building that had no effect on those living there........it wouldn't be such a big deal I guess.......

I do really like the shape/blocking though. I know that you guys hate brick, but what about brick where the "white" is???
 
Instead of the white I'd like seeing brick but not Portland skyline brick. Something really dark, almost wood like. Kind of like the Clarendon building in boston.
 
Maybe beige brick? The buildings where I went to college were all beige brick, so I'm kind of partial to it.

Examples:

LLC.jpg


Assumption_CampusPanoramaIT.jpg


I've always felt a building like the first example would go well in the parking lot where Rite Aid is today on Congress Street (across from the Cathedral). But that's another subject.
 
The midtown project is going for its final planning board workshop this week, which means they'll be seeking final approval next month in December. Some new renderings:

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I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this happen. Although, being close to someone who uses a wheelchair, I'm sympathetic to the criticism in the PB packet regarding their using steps to join e.g. Pearl St. Extension to the Bayside Trail.
 
Love of God of all those pages of whiny complaints on the planning board agenda page for this. It's scrapyards and contaminated soil now and people wanna complain about this replacing it?
 
grittys457 said:
Love of God of all those pages of whiny complaints on the planning board agenda page for this. It's scrapyards and contaminated soil now and people wanna complain about this replacing it?
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A lot of people hate change, especially big change. Those same people tend to be the most vocal, because that change somehow greatly threatens their internal sense of balance and delicate sensibilities. It’s like somehow the change will drastically alter their life’s path somehow.

Anyway, soap box philosophy aside, there’s an article in the paper this morning about the pending approval:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/_38_million_Bayside_project_nears_final_vote_in_Portland_.html

I’m not a fan of the tone of the article, especially Jack Soley’s “just suck it up and live with it” comments. Here’s an idea, Jack – instead of telling Portlanders to just suck it up and get over it (which people are not going to like and take the wrong way), while pointing out a couple minor imperfections with the project, why don’t you try to focus on the merits and pros of the project, which greatly outweigh any cons?

The biggest part of the argument against this project now seems to be the fact that the buildings will block the view of the downtown spine from the Bayside Trail and Marginal Way, as well as cast a shadow on the area. How is this argument even valid? One City Center, One Monument Square, the Time & Temp Building and the Fidelity Building all cast a shadow on Monument Square at some point in the day, which is a much higher foot traffic area than the Bayside Trail and Marginal Way COMBINED. I don’t see any protestors standing in Monument Square calling for these buildings to be torn down. And guess what? If you only built a 5 story building on the Midtown property, then it would STILL block the view of the downtown spine from the Bayside Trail and Marginal Way, as well as cast a shadow on the area.

The lack of perspective in people today amazes me. The only way you don’t block the view of the downtown spine from the Bayside Trail and Marginal Way and not cast a shadow on the area is to not develop the property at all or put another one-story supermarket down there.
 
Again the dumbest comments are the ones that say it will block the view of downtown from 295? That is utter horsecrap. The only time it would block any of it is when you're on 295 directly next to it and at that point I'd prefer you be looking ahead driving then turning your head at a 90 degree angle. People really need to get over our 2-D skyline because any aerial picture of Portland paints a much denser picture. Those buildings in the 2-D skyline are ugly as sin anyway. Shadows? You have Franklin Towers sitting on top of a hill like something out of Raiders of the lost Ark but you're worried about this building surrounded by nothing?

Already the people on the press herald comments talking about this failing and turning into housing projects. Yeah, Federated Companies clearly hasn't studied any of this as much as you. Maybe they should hire you. Yeah they didn't buy, fix, and flip Bayside student housing or anything for a big profit. Clearly idiots.

I do agree he should have used better words than "Get used to it". You know who you're dealing with, don't add fuel to the fire. There is no way in holy hell this gets stopped now though.

I've mentioned this before but one of us should start a Pro smart growth Portland facebook page. Get a bunch of people to like it and post new articles and maybe should the council and other nimbys that there is another voice out there. Get on it
 
This Peter Monro guy is getting on my nerves. Legal action? Is he serious? WTF is wrong with him? Was he rejected or fired as the landscape architect on this project and this is his revenge?
 
Peter Monro is pretty much enemy number one right now. I'd probably spit in his soup if I saw him eating out somewhere.

The Save Congress Square people had about .008% of a case. This clown has nothing. What in the holy hell could he sue on? This project was proposed over two years ago. Not like they announced it last month and they flew it through the process.

Where were all these people when they built Intermed and Bayside student housing? A four story building that long abutting 295 is like having a 20 story building a few blocks back. I don't mind them cause I think they seal off the future Bayside area from 295 but where were these protestors then?
 
Dr. StrangeHat said:
This Peter Monro guy is getting on my nerves. Legal action? Is he serious? WTF is wrong with him? Was he rejected or fired as the landscape architect on this project and this is his revenge?
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In my humble opinion, it would be a frivolous suit.
 
The city Planning Department has posted, in voluminous detail, the "Final Plans" for Midtown, in advance of the 12/10 public hearing. Now that I see where the ramps are in relation to the steps, I don't have any remaining concerns and look forward to seeing it go up!
 
No huge loss there, South Portland can have it. Building will eventually get leased due to it's accessible location.
 
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