October 15, 2025

  • 142 Free Street: - On Wednesday, the Portland Museum of Art presented their proposal for 7 Congress Extension at the Historic Preservation Board workshop. The proposal is for a temporary, private outdoor space replacing the historic building that was vacated and recently demolished by PMA, who claims the park is necessary to activate the site that has been “closed to the public for many years.” The permanent addition has not yet been filed with the City for review and the museum was unable to provide a timeline for how long this temporary structure would be on site. Because it is understood that it will stand for more than nine months the Board reviewed the application as a permanent addition instead of a temporary structure. The presentation showed an outdoor space with synthetic turf, surrounded by a fence, and covered by artistic flags attached to cables that could be “rotated every year.” The space will be programmed by the museum and, despite the words “Open to All” on the gate, will be fully enclosed with public access monitored by security guards and cameras. The museum said that once the structure does come down, the materials will be donated to the community. The Board seemed amenable to the concept of an enclosed park but asked for more details about materials and execution for further review. One member of the public commented that the proposal, while interesting in concept, resembles a refugee camp with camouflage netting and that its gimmicky design references to the Payson Building will be incoherent to users experiencing the space.

  • Downeaster Station Relocation: GPL Executive Director Kate Lemos McHale provided comment at City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee meeting on October 8th. She spoke in support of the City’s recommendation to continue studying the opportunity to relocate the Amtrak Downeaster train station from Thompson’s Point to Union Street Plaza near the Maine Central Railroad Building, where the historic Union Station stood before it was demolished in 1961 for a strip mall. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) prefers another location between Northern Light Mercy Hospital and St. John Street in an industrial zone that lacks walkability and connection to major destinations in Portland. GPL joins the City of Portland, Greater Portland Council of Governments, the Urbanist Coalition of Portland, and many others in support for the original train station location. Kate’s statement read in part, “Moving Portland’s Amtrak Downeaster Station close to the original site of Union Station would re-knit train travel into its historical location, and the neighborhood that had developed around it. We have the chance to heal a scar with exciting opportunities for Portland’s future. Adding a modern train station near historic buildings associated with previous railroad use is a great way to revitalize them as part of an active hub with a mix of uses.” Find our full statement here. Council voted to continue dialogue with stakeholders through mediated conversations to find a solution.