City Announces First in Series of Public Meetings on Possible Redevelopment of POT

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Proposed “The Market at Maine State PIer” Presented at Last November’s Economic c Development Committee Meeting. Bill Needleman, of the ED Office, Presented the Proposal.

The city of Portland announced  today a series of public meetings to discuss potential plans for the redevelopment of the Portland Ocean Terminal building on the Maine State Pier.  The public is encouraged to attend the first meeting – tomorrow AM.

The first meeting is tomorrow morning, Thursday, February 15th at 7:45 AM with the CBITD Operations Committee meeting held at Casco Bay Lines Conference Room, Casco Bay Lines, 56 Commercial Street on the Portland waterfront.  Additional meetings are scheduled for later this month up until and including March 12, 2018.  No financing has been obtained for this possible redevelopment project.  “Media” Mavadones is the operations manager for Casco Bay Lines as well as a long-time city councilor for Portland.

The results of these stakeholders outreach meetings will be communicated to the city council’s Economic Development Committee at a meeting in the next few months, time and date to be determined.  Bill Needleman, waterfront liaison to the EDC first presented the concept for a public market within the Portland Ocean Terminal building at the Maine State Pier at the Economic Development Committee, then chaired by former councilor David Brennerman on November 28, 2017.

At that time, Needleman told the committee that the success of such a project would depend ultimately on the year round support of Peaks Island residents  because it can not depend on tourists year-round.  Peaks Island residents have expressed the hope that the building would be converted into much needed parking for Island residents.  At the meeting last fall, Mayor Strimling commented that the view of the waterfront was not protected for residents of the area.

This is not the first time that the city has attempted to redevelop the  Maine State Pier.  Years ago the city put out RFP’s for its redevelopment causing extreme polarization by city residents who supported different competitors for the contract.

Please see post dated November 28, 2017 for more background information on the subject.