Updates on our recent advocacy efforts:
Portland Museum of Art: After extensive consideration, Greater Portland Landmarks has decided not to appeal the judge's ruling regarding 142 Free Street. Though we disagree with the outcome, we believe that it is in the best interest of all involved to move forward. We remain dedicated to protecting the integrity of Portland's preservation ordinance and intend to elevate education and awareness efforts to ensure that future losses of historic fabric are avoided. We will engage with the review process as the project moves through the Historic Preservation Board and the Planning Board. We believe there are pathways available to us to solidify our organization's legal standing in any other cases.
In recent conversations with PMA leadership, we urged the museum to be responsible stewards of their historic campus: to properly document 142 Free Street with drawings, scans, and photography, to deconstruct the building and salvage any reusable materials, and to create exhibits and programs about the history of the site, all of which the museum has stated they will do. We asked PMA to commit to not demolishing the building until their new project is funded and approved. We believe this is a reasonable request, especially since PMA publicly committed to do so in previous Planning Board documents. Furthermore, PMA demolished another building on their campus for a project that never came to fruition and the site remains an empty lot today- an outcome that could be avoided by postponing demolition. Unfortunately, it seems that the PMA will fail to honor this commitment.
We extend our deepest appreciation to all of those who have supported our efforts. Though we did not prevail in this case, our choice to move forward without an appeal allows us to focus our resources on future projects, initiatives, and partnerships. The next few months will be full of exciting updates and announcements, so please continue to support Greater Portland Landmarks as we embark on a new chapter of preservation in Portland.
Reimagining Franklin Street: Our staff attended the City of Portland's Open House for the Reimagining Franklin Street project where we learned more about the project. Urban Renewals practices in the 1960s resulted in the razing of a dense residential neighborhood along this corridor to facilitate vehicular movement in and out of downtown. These kinds of efforts caused widespread displacement for minority, immigrant, and underprivileged households while making it easier for wealthier commuters to get to work in urban cores and back home to the suburbs via the interstate. This project has the potential to knit the neighborhood back together. Join GPL in learning about the plans and advocating for preservation goals as the process moves forward.
Gorham Connector: We recently submitted a letter to the Joint Standing Committee on Transporation at the State House in support of LD1020- An Act Repealing the Laws of the Gorham Connector. We join Mainers for Smarter Transportation in the belief that other solutions can be found for regional traffic congestion that will have less impact to historic farms and open space, like the 18th century Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook/Scarborough.
ME Deconstruction Network: Alison is joining a new coalition called the Maine Deconstruction Network to advocate for deconstruction practices in greater Portland. Our first priority it to reuse a building on site, but when that is not an option, the best thing for the environment is to deconstruct a building (dismantle piece by piece) instead of mechanical demolition (think wrecking balls and bulldozers) that send reusable materials to landfills. We know that the average single-family home in America, when demolished, creates about the same amount of waste as the average American in their entire lifetime. When a building is deconstructed, its reusable materials can be made available for reuse in a new project or another site. Older and historic buildings often have old-growth wood, hand-carved marble, detailed ornamentation, large slabs of stone, etc. that can be reused if the building is taken down properly. Many cities across the country have already adopted deconstruction ordinances and we look forward to bringing these policies to Maine.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Recently, the National Trust emailed their supporters sounding the alarm about federal actions that have direct impacts on historic preservation. As they work at the federal level, they've charged all of us to use our voices at the local level: Share how federal actions are impacting you and your community; Learn how to be a grassroots advocate; Support the historic tax credit; Contact your representatives; Donate to local advocacy groups like GPL. Our historic preservation programs are losing staff and funding, National Parks are under threat, and critical tools for protecting places could be eliminated. We must take action now.
Music Hall: Portland City Council is considering a 180-day moratorium on the development of large-scale (2,000+ seats) theatres and performance venues. This could impact the proposal we have been following for the Music Hall at 244 Cumberland Avenue, which is being proposed as 3,300 seats. A second reading is required before City Council can vote on the moratorium.
What we are thinking about:
With the weather finally starting to feel more like spring, we're excited to get back out into our communities and explore Maine's historic places. Jane's Walk is a global free festival of volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs. Join us May 3rd for walks (and bike rides!) in Portland, Gorham, Yarmouth, and more!
