Since 2012 Greater Portland Landmarks has highlighted buildings and sites throughout Greater Portland that are threatened by demolition, redevelopment, or neglect.

This year's nominations for our Places in Peril program are due Friday, June 23rd. More information is available on how to nominate a property here.

Prior Places in Peril nominees have included House Island, the Grand Trunk Railroad Office Building, Sacred Heart Church, Fort Gorges, and Lincoln Park in Portland as well as South Portland's Maine State Armory Building. The Armory Building and the Grand Trunk Railroad Office Building were successfully rehabilitated this year.

The Armory now houses a convenience store, gas station and karate studio while the railroad building is now home to offices for Gorham Savings Bank. House Island was protected as a historic district by the City of Portland in 2015. Sacred Heart Church, an important cultural and religious center in the Parkside neighborhood, was able to surpass its fundraising goals to restore the church's copper roof and bell tower in 2016 after being named a Place in Peril in 2015.

Work is ongoing at two current Places in Peril. Construction is underway in Lincoln Park to replace the crumbling sidewalks and restore the park's central fountain. Next year the city has budgeted for the perimeter fence to be restored. Out in the harbor, Fort Gorges will also be a construction site this summer as the Army Corps of Engineers undertakes some safety improvements. The city's consultant is currently preparing a historic preservation plan for the fort's structural stabilization and island improvements that should be released later this summer.

Greater Portland Landmarks' Places in Peril program has successfully served as a catalyst for adaptive reuse and community revitalization. We continue to work to bring attention to other vulnerable sites on our list. If you know of a endangered property or site that should be featured by Landmarks, let us know!