The Giant Walking Serviceman sign on Route 302 is found to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places

The recently restored Hawkes Plaza sign is more commonly known as the Walking Man Sign, although his legs don't actually move, just his arms.

The Maine Historic Preservation Commission has determined that the recently restored Hawkes Plaza Sign on Route 302 at Duck Pond Corner in Westbrook is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance within the areas of art and commerce. 

The sign was built by Al Hawkes after he returned home from the Korean War to advertise his TV and radio business. The sign became a local landmark for travelers along busy Route 302 and is commonly referred to as the Giant Walking Serviceman or Walking Man sign. The sign has three hundred and eighty-five lightbulbs and a mechanical motor that drives the serviceman’s arm back and forth as it carries a box of TV parts.  Completed in 1962, the sign was turned off in 1989.  It was recently restored to working order by restaurateur Bill Umbel, owner of the new Lenny's Pub in the building occupied by Al Hawke's former TV and radio business.

Greater Portland Landmarks worked with the Westbrook Historical Society and neighbors to gain recognition for the sign now threatened by a Maine Department of Transportation proposal for a roundabout at Duck Pond Corner. The determination by the state of the sign's significance is an important step to preserving the sign for drivers to enjoy as they pass by for years to come. So next time you head west on Route 302, stop into Lenny's, take a picture with the Walking Man, and thank Bill for restoring this important piece of Westbrook's history! For more information on the history of Duck Pond and Al Hawkes:

This Place Matters: Duck Pond Corner 

Iconic Hawkes Plaza Repairman Lives Again in Westbrook Bangor Daily News

Westbrook Historical Society's History of Duck Pond

Portland Company Public Hearing

CPB2 image of the Portland Company redevelopment

• On Tuesday, December 20th, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing, and subsequent vote, on the Master Development Plan put forth by CPB2 to redevelop the former Portland Company complex on the Eastern Waterfront.

If you want to ensure that buildings in the Portland Company Local Historic District are carefully integrated into redevelopment plans, we need your help! The Planning Board will be voting on the master development plan application on Tuesday, December 20th @ 7PM at City Hall.

What you can do:

1. E-mail the Planning Board, to let them know that you support Greater Portland Landmarks’ position cdg@portland.gov
2. Contact Landmarks' Director of Advocacy at jlarry@portlandlandmarks.org
3. Attend the Planning Board Meeting, Dec 20th at 7PM in City Hall Council Chambers, to voice your support for historic preservation
4. Share this with anyone who knows these buildings matter!

The Portland Company Historic District recognizes a nationally-significant industrial complex that conveys an important part of Portland’s history.  Therefore, the scale and impact of the redevelopment must be carefully composed to preserve the character of the industrial complex.

Greater Portland Landmarks advocates for the following:

• Upholding the findings of the Historic Preservation Board
• Creating new construction in and directly adjacent to the historic district that does not overwhelm, distract or visually compete with the historic buildings.
• Preserving the character of the industrial complex through scale, massing, materials, and design details while allowing for new construction.
• Including at least one overhead bridge element that is retained or rebuilt in each alley to preserve the industrial complex’s visual character.
• Designing additions to the historic buildings that are contextually appropriate to each building.

Landmarks supports the potential relocation of Building 12 and the related amendment of the district boundaries as contemplated in the Master Development Plan.  The relocation will preserve the building’s visual relationship with the other contributing buildings in the historic district, provide it much greater visibility than would be possible in its current location, and create a contiguous historic district boundary. 

Read more about Landmarks' specific comments submitted to the Planning Board 12/15/2016

Read more about the issue and our position.

Join the City of Portland and Friends of Congress Square!

The next public meeting for the Congress Square redesign is this week.  The design team WRT and artist Sarah Sze will present the latest design concepts for the square and public art. The presentation is open to the public and public comment will be taken. The city and the design team want to hear your comments!

Thursday, December 15, 5:30-7:30pm @ Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, Winslow Homer Junior Ballroom  

The City of Portland will also collect feedback online during December and January for those who cannot attend - look for updates on the project webpage: http://www.portlandmaine.gov/1113/Congress-Square-Redesign

Planning staff will also be presenting the latest concepts at public workshops for various boards and committees in January.

Final Public Hearings on the Portland Company Master Development Plan Begin This Week

Image of the Portland Company Historic District by Perkins + Will Global from CPB2

The next scheduled public meeting will be the Historic Preservation Board's public hearing on Wednesday, December 7th. The public hearing is scheduled for 7PM in Room 209. Staff Memo for the HP Meeting on 12/07/2016

The final scheduled public hearing will be the Planning Board's meeting December 20, 2016, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall. 

If you are interested the last Planning Board workshop on the project's Architecture and Public Amenities it is available online. There is a brief discussion on the process and what a master development plan is and is not, a presentation by the applicant, public comment,  and a discussion by board members.

Portland Company Master Development Plan Workshops Continue

Portland's Planning Board and Historic Preservation Board have been holding workshops this month on CPB2's application for a master development plan at 58 Fore Street, the former Portland Company site. A final workshop on the project's public amenities and architecture will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 in City Council Chambers.

The Historic Preservation Board will hold its public hearing on the proposed plan on December 7th and the Planning Board will hold its public hearing on the plan on December 20th.  More information on times and locations tbd.

At the request of board members, CPB2 has provided additional images of the proposed development. 

Mark your calendars!

The next public meeting for the Congress Square redesign is a month away.  The design team WRT and artist Sarah Sze will present the latest design concepts for the square and public art. The presentation is open to the public and public comment will be taken. The city and the design team want to hear your feedback!

Thursday, December 15, 5:30-7:30pm @ Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, Longfellow Room

The City of Portland will also collect feedback online during December and January for those who cannot attend - look for updates on the project webpage: http://www.portlandmaine.gov/1113/Congress-Square-Redesign

Planning staff will also be presenting the latest concepts at public workshops for various boards and committees in January.

Portland's Comprehensive Plan: Help Shape a Vision for Portland's Future

On November 12th the City of Portland will hold a public forum on its ongoing Comprehensive Planning. The Comprehensive Plan is a long-range policy document that establishes a vision for the city for the coming decade. It addresses such topics as historic resources, housing, transportation, natural resources, open space, the economy, and more. The City of Portland's Planning Division invites you to come hear preliminary goals and recommendations of the plan and to tell them what you think. 

2:00PM Saturday, November 12, 2016

Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Way

For more information contact Christine Grimando, Senior Planner cdg@portlandmaine.gov 207-874-8608