Historic Schools
The battle over the future of Portland’s Nathan Clifford School reflects a national crisis in which historic school buildings are abandoned for new construction. In 2008, GPL, Maine Preservation, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation commissioned Barba + Wheelock Architecture + Preservation to review the City of Portland’s study of renovation of the Clifford School versus replacement of the 1907 building. The alternative study found potential savings of approximately $3 million, which would make renovation cost-comparable to new construction. This new information, along with compelling arguments regarding access to recreational space at historic Deering Oaks park, was not enough to alter the state’s funding process or stop the city from approving construction of a new school. Greater Portland Landmarks is part of the Downtown Coalition, coordinated by GrowSmart Maine, which is working to address state policies and attitudes toward school construction and the reuse of historic schools.
In March, 2010 the Maine Historic Preservation Commission ruled that the building is eligible for the National Register. The application is in process at this time.
For more information on historic schools, see the National Trust for Historic Preservation.