Brick South, to Become a Flexible 2,500 Person Event Facility, if Approved by the City.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,419)

Forefront Partners has submitted two Level III development review applications to the City of Portland for an amendment to the approved 2013 subdivision plan and for the renovation of the existing Brick South building.  The property is known as 1 Thompson’s Point. It is bordered by the Fore River,  1-295 and the Transportation Center.

The plan to develop the 30 acres on blighted land was introduced on April 28, 2011 by Jon Jennings, Chris Thompson, and William J. Ryan, Jr.  (Jennings has not been involved with the project for several years.) The proposal was to turn the former industrial site into an arts and entertainment site – primarily as a needed new stadium for the Maine Red Claws, of which Jennings was president at the time.  The Circus Conservatory of America currently has a site there and is looking to open a school there in the future.  Over the years the proposal for the property has evolved from an entertainment venue intended to draw people from as far away as Boston –  to one that “reflects more of what the community wants and needs” according to one source close to the situation today. The original plan called for construction to be completed in the fall of 2013.

The amended plan is for nineteen (19) lots and is proposed to be consistent with the Master Development Plan for the  site, approved in March 2014. The proposed site plan is for the renovation of “Brick South” for a flexible 2,500 person event assembly space with site improvements for parking, utilities and storm water management.  (See above left photo.)

For more information, please contact the city’s senior planner, Christine Grimando, at 207 – 874-8608 or cdg@portlandmaine.gov.  A date on the planning board’s agenda has not been set.