I would think this has to do with convincing donors. However, 'no timeline' leads me to believe they might not have prospects/anything close to the remaining $50M+
Interesting, I didn't see this coming...
www.pressherald.com
Portland Museum of Art to buy nearby MaineHealth building, parking lots
The PMA is set to purchase properties from MaineHealth nearby/adjacent on Free Street.
www.pressherald.com
P
Portlander
Guest
I refuse to subscribe to the PPH, could you share some of the details in the article on why and what is the PMA's plans moving forward? Thanks.
The Portland Museum of Art is set to take another step to address growing pains associated with its ambitious expansion plans.
The museum announced on Friday the purchase of properties at 110, 120, 128 and 130 Free St. that are currently home to a MaineHealth administrative building and private parking lots.
The sale means that the PMA now owns nearly all of a city block between Spring and Free streets.
PMA is still assessing specific uses for the new properties, but intends for the 110 Free St. property to eventually host administrative offices, giving the museum some needed legroom for galleries, exhibits, and visitor services within its current footprint.
PMA officials declined to respond to questions by phone, instead providing responses to several questions by email.
“This is a critical return-to-form for the museum,” Marcie Parker Griswold, PMA’s head of communications and audience engagement, wrote in an email. “Many of our current offices were originally meant for gallery space, but have more recently been used for administrative purposes as the museum has grown.”
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But “what’s arguably most exciting,” Parker Griswold said, is the creation of 140 public parking spaces.
“We’ll be able to open up the adjacent parking lot to the public, which is a huge benefit to both museumgoers and the entire downtown and Arts District area,” she said.
PMA and MaineHealth aren’t disclosing the sale price until it becomes official in March, but said it will be funded by the museum’s board.
The acquisition is part of PMA’s $100 million Blueprint project, a long-term plan to unify its campus, towards which they have raised $65 million. Part of that project also includes the ongoing construction of a new wing at the former Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine at 142 Free St.
The museum demolished that building in September after a lengthy battle in city meetings and courtrooms. The PMA has not yet submitted any construction plans for the new wing for approval, and it’s not clear whether this purchase will impact the design at all.
“Expanding the PMA campus is a truly transformative opportunity, bringing together the Arts District, Free Street, and the Old Port in a way that feels seamless and inviting,” Mark Bessire, the museum’s executive director, said in a press release. “These properties are the foundation for a future where art and community thrive together.”
Meanwhile, MaineHealth will continue to use its administrative building for at least two years.
“We have seen a real shift in how people work in the post-pandemic era, and we need to organize our administrative teams around that new reality,” Andy Mueller, chief executive of Maine Health, said in a press release. “This is part of a broader responsibility we have to use our resources wisely so that we can deliver high-quality care to our communities in the most cost-effective way possible, which is critical to achieving our MaineHealth vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.”
While MaineHealth is still occupying the building, PMA will begin planning renovations and a “phased activation” of the property, Parker Griswold said.
The museum announced on Friday the purchase of properties at 110, 120, 128 and 130 Free St. that are currently home to a MaineHealth administrative building and private parking lots.
The sale means that the PMA now owns nearly all of a city block between Spring and Free streets.
PMA is still assessing specific uses for the new properties, but intends for the 110 Free St. property to eventually host administrative offices, giving the museum some needed legroom for galleries, exhibits, and visitor services within its current footprint.
PMA officials declined to respond to questions by phone, instead providing responses to several questions by email.
“This is a critical return-to-form for the museum,” Marcie Parker Griswold, PMA’s head of communications and audience engagement, wrote in an email. “Many of our current offices were originally meant for gallery space, but have more recently been used for administrative purposes as the museum has grown.”
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But “what’s arguably most exciting,” Parker Griswold said, is the creation of 140 public parking spaces.
“We’ll be able to open up the adjacent parking lot to the public, which is a huge benefit to both museumgoers and the entire downtown and Arts District area,” she said.
PMA and MaineHealth aren’t disclosing the sale price until it becomes official in March, but said it will be funded by the museum’s board.
The acquisition is part of PMA’s $100 million Blueprint project, a long-term plan to unify its campus, towards which they have raised $65 million. Part of that project also includes the ongoing construction of a new wing at the former Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine at 142 Free St.
The museum demolished that building in September after a lengthy battle in city meetings and courtrooms. The PMA has not yet submitted any construction plans for the new wing for approval, and it’s not clear whether this purchase will impact the design at all.
“Expanding the PMA campus is a truly transformative opportunity, bringing together the Arts District, Free Street, and the Old Port in a way that feels seamless and inviting,” Mark Bessire, the museum’s executive director, said in a press release. “These properties are the foundation for a future where art and community thrive together.”
Related
The Portland Museum of Art got the OK to demolish the former Children’s Museum. What’s next?Meanwhile, MaineHealth will continue to use its administrative building for at least two years.
“We have seen a real shift in how people work in the post-pandemic era, and we need to organize our administrative teams around that new reality,” Andy Mueller, chief executive of Maine Health, said in a press release. “This is part of a broader responsibility we have to use our resources wisely so that we can deliver high-quality care to our communities in the most cost-effective way possible, which is critical to achieving our MaineHealth vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.”
While MaineHealth is still occupying the building, PMA will begin planning renovations and a “phased activation” of the property, Parker Griswold said.
P
Portlander
Guest
Appreciate the effort PWMFlyer. Moving all of the admin and support offices into the MaineHealth building to free up more exhibit space is a smart move. Actually owning all of the nearby parking lots is also a huge plus!
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TC_zoid
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The museum might be rethinking the project. They dumped the original little Portland, OR firm for one bigger and more prominent (Lever), and these land purchases could be used for more than surface parking. First, definitely raze the little franken structure with the A.I. generated mural on the side. Maybe now the thinking is an underground garage with the surface being a dynamic plaza (modern and contemporary museums are known for that) with perhaps a new semi-circular building design. The current wooden and glass proposal is okay, but few would be coming to this iteration as an example of magnificent architecture.
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Portlander
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I thought Lever was the winning firm (wood and glass design) all along and they are based out of the other Portland, is there a change?
TC_zoid
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Lever was handed the project from a little firm in Portland, OR. The little firm was selected by the PMA because of a certain "politically correct" architect. But this person in this tiny firm was overwhelmed as they were young and inexperienced (with only one average nothing special office building to their credit). And I believe this person was then hired by Lever to make it all seem like a smooth transition.
TC_zoid
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I don't know about this. Remember when the Press Hotel did their little pocket park on the street? It didn't really work. The above concept illustration appears only half thought-out. I do think the upcoming new addition should be revised. It should or could be bolder and more modern and perhaps spill out into the adjoining properties they've just purchased. If they need ideas for outdoor use space, go spend some time at the lawn on D in the Seaport District (Boston) this summer. Wow.
This whole thing is a debacle.