Late last week the city of Portland announced that it has received a minor site plan application from New Yard, LLC, 100 West Commercial Street, a/k/a Portland Yacht Services.  The application calls for the construction of a module building that would be positioned on a block foundatin and used for marine related research and development associated with vessels and related equipment.

Accordng to Phin Sprague, Jr., owner of the boat yard, the space will be used by a famly friend and customer who over the years has been a “prolific” inventor.  In his email, Mr. Sprague said that this long-time friend had expessed an interest in locating at 100 West Commercial Street.  However, there was no space available there for him so:  “I decided that the interest he had and potential was too significant for the future of the PYS effort to pass up,” he said.  “A master wizard” and it’s a great place for him.  That is my vision the plan has been applied for.  We shall see…….”

Mr. Sprague also said that his staff is “constantly creating little inventions to get our jobs done.  We build them and set them aside because there is a difference between getting the job done and stepping back to say that was a really useful idea and could other people use it?  We are not qualified to make the transition and have seen many of the solutions end up in the market place.  He likes doing the work of bringing an idea to market and is good at it.”

Previously New Yard was Portland Yacht Services and located on the Munjoy HIll waterfront – in the space now occupied by Portland Foreside Development..  For many years, PYS was the popular location for the annual boat show and flower show.