The City of Portland has received a Level 3 application for the redevelopment of an existing parking lot to a 135 room hotel, in a six story structure at One Center Street. Plans submitted by Fathom CC, LLC include a first floor restaurant along Commercial Street and a roof top bar. Jim Brady, formerly of Portland Foreside, a/k/a 58 Fore Street, is the President of Fathom, a recently formed hotel management company of his. He also developed the boutique hotel, The Press Hotel, three years ago.

The proposed project, on 1/2/ acre, is intended to support local businesses and structured local economy by providing a place for visitors to stay overnight with in the downtown area according to a letter describing the project by the project engineers. A restaurant facing Commercial Street is planned with a rooftop bar.

The underutilized and visually appealing parking space will be replaced by a structure that fills a void along the frontage on Commercial Street. Primary guest access into the hotel is located along the Center Street facade with wheel chair arrivals curbside along Center Street. There are two principle building materials. They are a brick base and an upper metal panel system. Architects for the project are HKS Architects.

The ground floor area is 22,758 sf and there is a total of footage of 112, 046 sf. The application suggests there is an off-site parking agreement for 75 spaces, somewhere. According to the zoning analysis, 64 spaces are required for the hotel/restaurant/rooftop bar. Seventy-five spaces are provided. It is part of the holdings of North River IV, LLC and is located in the Downtown B-3 zone.

Written comments should be submitted to the planningboard@portlandmaine.gov. Please contact Matt Grooms, planner by phone at 207 – 874-8725 at city hall.