Portland, ME - New Construction Continued

Corey said:
That was just my cynicism concerning our auto-dependent culture and how I don't think we should build our lives (or our pedestrian walkways) based on the preferences of automobiles. I'll try to tone it down :p

I also concur that a non-cloverleaf interchange would be better for pedestrian AND automobile traffic. This interchange is where the 'gateway to the peninsula' should be. Great spot for urban development.
Click to expand...



No! don't tone it down...don't misunderstand me, I think that is precisely the type of attitude smart urban planning should be based around, however, I guess I just misunderstood you because from my frame of reference I was assuming any "solution" would take the interchange as a "given" seeing as how its already in place. I think going forward we should take your attitude, but the fact is that it would take more than anyone around here would be politically willing to invest to get rid of the interstate barrier to downtown. Not only that, but don't forget that for all of its shortcomings, the interstate enlivened downtown portland when it was crumbling. people need to keep things in perspective a bit. Portland was town past its prime and the old port was a no-go zone where only bums and crooks hungout. the infrastructure was crumbling, congress street was a mess, the city had emptied out and there were no office towers, no arts district, no civic center, etc. The place was an absolute dump. the interstate and franklin arterial, as well as spring street, changes this by enabling the feasibility of monument square, which used to be referred to as the "golden triangle" because of all its potential (it used to be a parking lot). spring street enabled the civic center, which further fed tourists into the old port. the old port has increased interest in the eastern waterfront and parts of congress street heading up the hill, and it is only because of these things, as well as the fact that cars come into the city by the interstate that everyone now despises that there is even interest in bayside or reconfiguring franklin arterial in the first place. So, while I certainly wish the city could be as nice as it is without these blunders, they also serve legitimate purposes which will have to be solved via alternative transportation (rail) if they are to succeed. This, in turn, requires a major shift in attitudes throughout the metropolitan region. assume we fixed the arterial, took otu the interstate, and put in rail. people may just opt to pass portland by for scarborough sprawl. it is a delicate balance that must be achieved and now I have yet again gone on a long rant.


also check out this blog which I think most on here would like (corey im not sure if this is on your list of linked to sites or not) http://themaineland.blogspot.com/
 
My suggestion was not to remove the interstate, just to change this interchange so that the ramps meet the street at right angles, with stop signs. Such an interchange is better for pedestrians and takes up less land.
 
http://www.architalx.org/index.htm

22nd Annual Lecture Series

The 2010 Architalx Lecture Series is proud to present an outstanding and diverse group of speakers. Please join us for five evenings of architecture and design. This year, as the design process for the Veterans Memorial Bridge replacement enters the final phases, Architalx begins with an especially relevant evening: a discussion of bridges and urban conditions with two leading bridge designers. The series continues with four exceptional contemporary design practitioners who promise to excite us with their remarkable work and ideas.

March 30 Lecture:
Abromson Center, USM
88 Bedford Street, Portland, Maine

All April Lectures:
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square, Portland, Maine

Lectures begin at 6 pm
Doors open at 5:30 pm

Admission is $10 at the door
or purchase tickets online for $9.30 ($8.00 + $1.30 service fee).
 
There is a very interesting article in the Hill Observer this week. I couldn;t locate an online version but it is called cars versus catholics and its about city charter reform. Pretty interesting. basically it talks about how the KKK rallied to reform the city charter to give more off peninsula voters increased power. the "cars" part simply refers to the fact that the advent of the automobile enabled the increased off peninsula population of non-catholic voters. most of the catholics, for whatever reason, remained downtown. I'm assuming it was a combination of tradition and inability to move elsewhere due to limited income that kept them there. Some very interesting history about the engine house on India street, too, which is where I work part time.
 
^That does sounds interesting. I will have to check that out.

Here's a Valentine's Day shot of Monument Square. I think the new entrance on 1 Monument Square onto the plaza will look great. Most of the work on the library is now taking place inside.

monumentsquareportlandm.jpg
 
I noticed that the pierce atwood office building facade change is made of a lighter colored material on the four sides than it is in the middle. I was kind of hoping that the whole thing would be a bright and metallic building, but now it looks just like it did before--hard to tell where the windows are. Still an improvement though I guess. Oh and another thing I always wondered was why the side of the Maine Bank and Trust building which faces the library is missing windows for the bottom half of the structure. its just a blank wall. evidently, from recent historic photos I've seen, there used to be an adjacent building built right next to it, prior to the library, which blocked that space. interesting.
 
I always wonder why they didn't wrap the (Indiana Bedford limestone) facade of the Maine Bank & Trust building all the way around. It looks so good on the Monument Square and Preble Street sides and so bad on the other sides. At least it wasn't built the other way around.
 
Corey said:
I always wonder why they didn't wrap the (Indiana Bedford limestone) facade of the Maine Bank & Trust building all the way around. It looks so good on the Monument Square and Preble Street sides and so bad on the other sides. At least it wasn't built the other way around.
Click to expand...

Yeah, its ugly on one side and great on the other. I bet there is some story to it, like there is with everything. Have you seen the building I was referring to that covered up half of the windows on the buildings eastern side (I know you're into those old photos). From another photo I've seen apparently there was also something like a walgreens in front of the eastland park hotel in what is now that plaza with the mural on it. I think I prefer the plaza.
 
It seems like MMC is building as much as they can before the neighbors shut them out completely. I don't mind the development in that part of town but I do think it should be integrated more with its surroundings. Look at that apartment building and the lack of access to congress street. The stilts on which it stands are prone to becoming a hang out for local hoodlums and graffiti, beer, and other useless activities. Maine Med just completely acts like the western prom and buffers itself from the surrounding poverty. I'm not saying make a corridor full of trash, either, but I think both sides would be better off if valley street was connected to the prom and congress street was connected more to the new housing, parking garage, offices etc. think about it, the skybridge at usm is for convenience. the skybridge at MMC is to avoid associating with the neighborhood. Which, of course, only makes the neighborhood less desirable to be associated with.
 
Oh and one more complaint about parking garages around here. who is surprised that those retail spaces are still empty? I'm not. who would honestly want to open up shop in the first floor of a parking garage with generic looking windows? Its a hideous attempt to pretend its not a parking garage and create some street activity. The only garage, in my opinion, which has pulled this off well is the garage on fore street, and maybe the eastland park's garage on the forest ave side, but both of those structures have unique features to them and are not just blank and generic looking. anyone agree?
 
That Pierce Atwood facade has been renovated? How bad was it before? It looks like a lost opportunity in a great setting!
 
tobyjug said:
That Pierce Atwood facade has been renovated? How bad was it before? It looks like a lost opportunity in a great setting!
Click to expand...

It is actually still in the process of being renovated. Here are some before pictures, with some other shots of its progress showing the difference between the two facades.

2_city.jpg

4680558_fa675cdb58.jpg

key+bank+building+2+portland+maine+summer+2009.jpg


its still got a ways to go, but I agree. On the plus side, they are also opening up a previously blank wall and inserting a restaurant, which should add to street activity.
 
Restaurant is a good move. I don't suppose Mr. Pierce or Mr. Atwood would let them do something about that mechanical penthouse?
 
^I assume the penthouse will be covered with the new siding also, but in the meantime it really does stick out a lot. I think we could use a rooftop bar up there or something.

I agree, Patrick. The retail spaces within the newest Maine Med parking garage seem to have been an afterthought. I'm surprised the windows haven't been smashed yet. The only thing I could see working in those spaces is a bodega but there is already one across the street. I would like to see the hospital make a better effort at sprucing up the neighborhood and you have a good point about the elevated walkway.

The Gateway Garage (at the Eastland Hotel) is a keeper. I used to be a monthly parker there when I had a car. Although it is looking a bit worn out, it works well supporting several businesses on the lower floors and interacts well with the street. How many other parking garages have a church and a music mastering studio in them?! (One of the top mastering studios in America, mind you). The garage that the Nickelodeon and a few other businesses are in works similarly well.
 
tobyjug said:
Restaurant is a good move. I don't suppose Mr. Pierce or Mr. Atwood would let them do something about that mechanical penthouse?
Click to expand...

Rooftop bar would be cool in sim city, but I'm pretty sure theres nothing up there but heating and ventilation utilities connections....kind of hard to figure out how to arrange the bar :)

I can see a bodega working there, too, however I think the current location is better suited given the proximity to parkside. also, the rent may be too high to support a food place in there (since its new construction). I don't picture professionals wanting to be in there, yet it looks like that's the only type of people who would bother renting a nondescript space. retail certainly doesn't benefit from generic windows.
 
Where did you hear about a restaurant going into the building? God, I'm falling out of the loop!
 
Yeah, a restaurant is planned for the side of the building which faces monument square. If you are driving down Congress street toward munjoy hill, you will notice that there is now a large wooden piece of the building going from side to side above where the entrance will be. Key bank will be remodeled to accommodate the extra restaurant space, which will open directly on to monument square in what used to be just that blank wall. Should be neat. It said that in a city document and a newspaper clipping which are no longer available online.
 
Well, smart idea. On a cold day, that's gonna grab all the business from those buildings. Same smart move with the new Walter's. Now that's a great design for a restaurant. Finally something modern and urban
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top