Portland, ME - New Construction Continued

Somehow I just noticed that the glass section of this project looks down middle street, nice touch! (note that it's a lot farther away than this picture makes it look)

middlest.jpg
 
Corey, the pics on your site are incredible. I hope everybody clicks over there every now and then.
 
Thanks Gritty's! I sneak a few good ones in there every now and then. It tends to be quantity over quality though since I try to post everday.

On a different note, happy belated spring to everyone! I know some people may prefer the colder months but for people like me it is slowly starting to warm up enough to get out and enjoy the city once again.
 
Maybe everyone has already seen these, I don't recall seeing so many, but the Portland planning board website has some nice PDF files on their site relating to development of the bayside trail, the 'old' public market renovations (adding a second floor all the way around and closing the preble/cumberland entrance), Oak St. Lofts site plan, etc.
 
^ That's too bad. We can still hope that it will be developed someday though, it will be a prime building area during the next construction boom.

Has anyone been inside the Intermed Building? I just got in their today. I would have gotten even more shots but didn't want to stick around too long since I didn't have any business there.

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marginalway6.jpg


marginalway5.jpg


marginalway4.jpg


marginalway2.jpg


I had never seen the in-between area of this building before now. It looks horrible.

marginalway3.jpg
 
That one corner looks nice. It's quite obvious the brick is pre-fab (where isn't it pre-fab nowadays?), but I've seen much worse. The contrast between the light stone on the ground floor and top floor (obviously pre-fab as well) and the brick is nice too. It's a bit too sprawling for my liking, but it could be a LOT worse. The scale is a bit large, but the orientation to the street is good. I sure do wish there were more doors along that groundfloor... The glass is a bit more inviting than blank wall, but it's still rather large and inhospitable.

I have some pictures I took this week of the new UNE school of Pharmacy on Stevens... nothing special, but I'll post them when I upload them.
 
grittys457 said:
http://www.645congress.com/
Click to expand...

I am really excited about this project, it looks great. I envision this part of Congress Street being a little more 'cleaned up' within the next 5 or 10 years. It's already come a long ways but project like this help even more. Justin Alfond, whom is involved with this, will continue to get my vote in the future.
 
Hello All,
Corey, I could not agree with you more about 645 Congress. I lived there (Portland Hall) during summer of 2006 while attending SMCC. 645 Congress will help keep things perculating west of High Street on Congress. Walker Terrace Apartments were a great addition to Congress that replaced an abandoned gas station (2006 I believe.) I wonder if Walker Terrace had any influence on 645 Congress. Anyhow, its great to see forward momentum on Congress west of High Street.

Matt
 
Anyone still around this forum? Anyhow..

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=262938&ac=PHnws

Developer to buy newspaper properties

The Press Herald's new owners will sell two downtown buildings to John Cacoulidis, who plans a 30-story high rise.


"In 2001, Cacoulidis presented his plans for a hotel and convention center on a 22-acre parcel he acquired at Spring Point in South Portland. The project called for twin 35-story towers with 2,600 hotel rooms and was to feature a 300-foot-high cable-car system capable of ferrying passengers across Portland Harbor."
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The story makes it clear that there are no formal plans, but it's exciting news nonetheless. There isn't a better spot for a 'high rise' in Portland, in my opinion. The story was mentioned in today's post at Rights of Way, here: http://rightsofway.blogspot.com/2009/06/downtowns-changing-geography.html
 
I hate to say this, but a 30 story building in Portland is never going to happen....it's wishful thinking though.
 
the greater portland landmarks association (http://portlandlandmarks.org/center/Photo-Gallery.php) publishes a free newspaper. In the current addition, it speaks of replacing the vet mem bridge on the western waterfront as a new gateway to portland with something like this:

web_PenobscotBridgeProspect.jpg


it also talked about how this is something that is in the works, and not just a 'vision.' the organization is advocating for exciting new architecture similar to that of the penobscot bridge or the zakim in boston. construction is going to be via a process known as design/build, which streamlines the process and makes it more expeditious because the same contractor both designs and builds the bridge. should be interesting to see what design the city settles on.

according to this website (http://www.state.me.us/mdot/pdb/index.htm) the state has just issued its final RFP (request for construction proposals) with the final drafts due in August. Construction of the new bridge is to begin in just under a year.

also see: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=221730&ac=PHnws

current bridge
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Portland's vision for the bridge:
http://portlandlandmarks.org/Images/advocacy-New-Development.php/09_VetBridge_memo.pdf

this article talks about how the PSA wants to exceed the penobscot bridge in design
http://www.maineasla.org/msla pdfs/BridgeStatement_1-14-09_final.pdf

more gateway
http://www.theportlanddailysun.com/cgi/story.pl?storyid=20090401113081000816
 
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Although it's not in an especially scenic area, it would be nice to see something that is 'easy on the eyes' built here. I hope it isn't a clone of the popular style that the Penobscot Bridge of the Zakim Bridge and countless others modern are built on.. As long as it has wide sidewalks for pedestrians and bicycles I will be happy.
 
Corey said:
Although it's not in an especially scenic area, it would be nice to see something that is 'easy on the eyes' built here. I hope it isn't a clone of the popular style that the Penobscot Bridge of the Zakim Bridge and countless others modern are built on.. As long as it has wide sidewalks for pedestrians and bicycles I will be happy.
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I wouldn't mind seeing the zakim in little portland. also, with the second phase of mercy going in, the connector road, and the development of the western waterfront, this area is all set to become very scenic indeed. it is also where the new monument is going.
 
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