Skyline & Aerial photos | Portland

Random online find.

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Found this. The West part of Commercial Street is looking quite impressive. I'd like to see this picture wider when Hobson's Landing' next phase is done. From that to the end of the Canopy by Hilton. Now, I know why its condos sold out so quickly--the architecture of the 3rd floor courtyard is fantastic (modern, comfy, and social). "Not Maine in Maine," as I like to say.
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the 3rd floor courtyard is
 
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Portlander said:
A vintage waterfront photo for Mark!
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Every cyclist who complains about coming off the Casco Bay Bridge should take a good look at that turn from the Million Dollar Bridge onto the viaduct! (For reference, the street that fed straight into the bridge from the West End is Brackett.)
 
I didn't realize the current Hobson's Landing lot/former Deering Lumber was originally a small train yard. I knew there were tracks that ran under Park Street and High Street, but I just assumed they connected to the tracks along Commercial.
 
Dr. StrangeHat said:
I didn't realize the current Hobson's Landing lot/former Deering Lumber was originally a small train yard. I knew there were tracks that ran under Park Street and High Street, but I just assumed they connected to the tracks along Commercial.
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There's a photo of that era on the wall at Becky's Diner.
 
Portland Terminal Company controlled the connections on the waterfront. A rail siding was connected to each wharf. It amazes me that all this existed and when the car and truck started to become popular, everything went away. Union Station on one end, and GT station on the other. Grain elevators, warehouses, coal, Portland was the hub.
 
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Photo from around 1966. Extra floors were added to the Casco Bank Building in 1964 and the Edward Walker hardware store in Monument Square was demolished in 1965. This is a few years prior to the reconstruction of Spring and Franklin Streets, addition of Franklin Towers (1969), One Monument Square (1970), Holiday Inn (1971), and One Canal Plaza (1972). It appears that work has begun on the rooftop pool at the Eastland Motor Hotel which was eventually closed after Ozzy Osbourne and his band tossed furniture off the roof onto High Street in the 70's! Thanks to Portland Public Library Archives
 
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It's too bad all of those big trees in the picture are mostly gone. As I drove through the city yesterday that was one thing that I think Portland is lacking is more greenery. I'm not saying that they have to build parks everywhere because land is extremely limited.....but it would be nice to see more trees and landscaping in certain areas.
 
I see so may mistakes in what Portland chose to do with building replacement location. I can think of a dozen other areas for taller buildings
 
Most of the big trees were elms, which either succumbed to Dutch elm disease or were culled in a vain attempt to stop the spread of the fungus. So far as taller buildings go, I think it boils down to lack of demand; offices don't get built on spec in Portland. Most of the non-signature modern office buildings downtown (and in SoPo/Scarborough) were built in an era when Unum was actively spreading its profit centers out all over town.
 
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