Portland, ME - New Construction Continued

PortlandArch said:
I'd like to see the whole trader joes building itself come down and replaced with a high rise to complete the urban block. How odd will that be once this project is built? Picture Congress St. with a one story building on it....
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On a similar note, I'd like to see something built in the Planet Fitness parking lot. If parking is an issue, then make Marginal way one lane in each direction the whole length and add street parking. With 400+ units of market-rate apartments being added to the neighborhood, whatever customers Planet Fitness loses from the lack of parking, they'll gain right back from new local residents. Besides, if you're going to the gym, walk there. When I lived up on Munjoy Hill I used to walk to that Planet Fitness. It was part of the workout.
 
Dr. StrangeHat said:
On a similar note, I'd like to see something built in the Planet Fitness parking lot. If parking is an issue, then make Marginal way one lane in each direction the whole length and add street parking. With 400+ units of market-rate apartments being added to the neighborhood, whatever customers Planet Fitness loses from the lack of parking, they'll gain right back from new local residents. Besides, if you're going to the gym, walk there. When I lived up on Munjoy Hill I used to walk to that Planet Fitness. It was part of the workout.
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Good thinking. I think part of the desire for a parking garage in this neighborhood is to free up the surface lots in precisely those areas. Little known fact -- Marginal way right of way is deliberately broad to incorporate or at least not preclude light rail.
 
PortlandArch said:
Good thinking. I think part of the desire for a parking garage in this neighborhood is to free up the surface lots in precisely those areas. Little known fact -- Marginal way right of way is deliberately broad to incorporate or at least not preclude light rail.
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PA, I like your comments on the Press Herald Website in regards to today's article about the Maritime Landing project. To see the latest architectural rendering (and I know that you have seen it already) of the project go to the Bangor Daily News website. BDN always seams to come up with the latest Portland news way before the Press Herald does. The Press Herald is so lazy when it comes to details of projects. They keep showing the old arch. renderings from July or August of 2011 for (the renderings that were used to promote the project to the voters) the Civic Center renovation project instead of the most current renderings. I keep emailing them the correct renderings to try and keep them current.
 
I was serious about the glare concerns as it can be wicked at dusk off back buildings. Wondering if buildings that close to 295 with glass have to be toned down
 
grittys457 said:
I was serious about the glare concerns as it can be wicked at dusk off back buildings. Wondering if buildings that close to 295 with glass have to be toned down
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I've never noticed any glare off of the Intermed building, though that's only one building, not a row of seven buildings. My guess is the student housing complex on Marginal Way will provide a decent buffer against most of the glare. That's just a guess, though.
 
It's Christmas for this site in the last few weeks for news. Everything hitting their stride.....hopefully

Oh my God, negative comments on PPH for Thompson's Point project. Shocking.
 
grittys457 said:
Oh my God, negative comments on PPH for Thompson's Point project. Shocking.
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Not surprising. I can't read comments on any PPH stories any more. Almost all the comments just upset me as a liberal car-free city-lover.

CCCC photo from tonight (pardon the quality, it was pretty dark and I just have the built-in flash on my DSLR):

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Boss picture Corey. You peek into In'Finiti yet and find out if there are giant rats hiding and waiting for the beer to start getting made? I think that's awesome they are not only going to brew beers but distill their own liquor on site. First in the city or in Maine I'm sure.

Still would like to know if Blue Lobster Urban Winery is a go next to Two Fat Cats. They've been renovating that building forever it seems.
 
Corey awesome pic from a unique angle.

The Press Herald fails to mention the next step in the Thompsons Point Project. So it sounds that this project will definitely happen in the near future. I read on the PPH a few months ago that they want architechture to be more bold than vanilla-suburban arena-like. This I happen to agree with. I feel this project will help Portland become more well known through out New England and get some decent acts and artists playing there.
At some point the Seadogs will have to renovate or replace Hadlock Field. I know they continue to add to the capacity (I think it hold roughly 7500), but is landlocked via the railroad and Expo.
On another note, Fitzpatrick stadium looks great with the new bleachers, which make a huge difference.
 
Hadlock absolutely does not need more seats. Wish it was right downtown but they've invested too much already

The original Thompson point plan was better than the current one which is sad
 
The Chair of the Planning Board encouraged phase II to propose taller buildings with more dramatic architectural lighting on them.

Bay House has to start construction by Saturday, I believe, before its contract zone expires. It could, in theory, pursue another project under existing zoning, or pursue another contract zone, if it misses out here, but given the tone of the neighborhood, the composition of which appears somewhat different today than when that project was first proposed, it may be a different path to approval.
 
What's construction though? Couldn't they rent one digger and say they started?
 
grittys457 said:
What's construction though? Couldn't they rent one digger and say they started?
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Or a sand shovel, or stare at it really hard with intense construction-minded glares, or commit to construction at the bank by signing the loan, when does the ink have to dry by? Now you're thinking like a lawyer. I don't know what the definition of construction commencement would be, but it's an interesting one and one I wish I knew the answer to.
 
funny you should say that... just drove up Fore Street towards the hill, glanced down Hancock and saw a lone digger moving dirt around. "Construction" has started.


grittys457 said:
What's construction though? Couldn't they rent one digger and say they started?
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Portland is going to be a very different place in two years. There is alot of exciting things going on
The bay house getting started is great.....its been trying to get off the ground for years....glad it finally happened
 
I confirmed the Bay House has started, and occupancy is projected for December 2013.
 
I was pleasantly surprised to see Elm Terrace on the corner of Danforth and High Streets from across the harbor this morning:

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I also recently saw that Danforth and High is starting to be built. I had mistakenly assumed that the materials sitting in this lot were for the project across the street.
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grittys457 said:
Have the updated brackett st designs been posted yet? Nice addition to that area

http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/hppackets/hpmemo183189brackettstreet091912.pdf
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Thanks for posting the link to that PDF. I have mixed feelings about the looks of that building. While that block is crying out for redevelopment, I'm not a huge fan of big, squat buildings that occupy part or all of a block.

While the block is uninviting now with the decrepit houses and vacant lot, it won't necessarily be any more inviting if a big hulking building is there, especially if there is no retail on the ground floor, which from those drawings there doesn't appear to be.

It's sort of how I feel about Walker Terrace. While it's certainly preferable to the gas station that was there previously, I think the building is a little out of sorts with that side of Congress Street. It is one of the few buildings on that side of the street that stands flush with the sidewalk, and because there is no retail or other public use in the building it's not really any more inviting than the gas station was. And because of its height it has a sort of imposing feel to it. While there are a few setbacks and design elements to the building, it mostly just looks like a big brick box plopped down where a gas station used to be.
 
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