By Carol McCracken  (Pos # 1,767)

The Maine Department of Transportation, (“MaineDOT”),  is hosting a required neighborhood meeting to discuss a proposed western expansion of the International Terminal at 460 Commercial Street.  The meeting will be held on the 3rd floor Conference Room, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street on Monday, April 28th at 6:30 p.m.

The expansion concerns changes to the area it intends to make to facilitate the railroad transportation needs of the container shipment company, Eimskip.  Eimskip moved to the Commercial Street area just over a year ago with assurances that changes would be made within the next few years to make these improvements. A sizable portion of that property was recently taken by eminent domain by MaineDot from the work-in-progress, New Yard.  Owned by Phin Sprague, Jr., negotiations for the price remain underway because of a disagreement over the value of the property. Negotiations will be drawn out indefinitely and could end up  in a court battle. The land taken by MaineDOT is substantial and will require Sprague to purchase more property from Pan Am’s David Fink, to duplicate his original plans for New Yard. Sprague is required to leave his current space at Portland Yacht Services by December of this year in accordance with an agreement with Jim Brady who bought his property at 58 Fore Street last year for $15 million. Sprague’s concern is that this delay puts his forty-five or so employees and their families at risk of an income source. The development of New Yard is already about two years behind schedule according to Sprague.

This meeting complies with City Code for proposed industrial subdivisions and industrial zone changes.  The meeting must be held at least seven days prior to the planning  board public hearing on the proposal.

For more information, please contact the planning office at 874-8721 or email: bab@portlandmaine.gov