Updates on our recent advocacy efforts:
As a follower of GPL, you know that we filed a lawsuit against Portland City Council last fall regarding 142 Free Street, the former Children's Museum building beside the Portland Museum of Art (PMA). Oral arguments have been scheduled for March 5, 2025 for the judge's consideration of our appeal.
Constructed in 1830, 142 Free Street was one of Portland's first theatres, but due to stigmas about performing arts, the venture was not successful. Over time, the building was rehabilitated to reflect the needs of Portland in different eras; it was reimagined as a church, a chamber of commerce, and a children's museum. Today, this neighborhood is a designated local historic district and 142 Free Street is considered a contributing structure that tells stories of Portland's evolution.
All historic building are modified over time, reflecting changes in use, material availability, style and design preferences, technology, fires and natural disasters, and the needs and preferences of their users. When associated with an important period in a building’s history, such alterations contribute to its significance.
Unfortunately, when asked by the current owner, PMA, to downgrade the status of 142 Free Street to "noncontributing" so that it could be demolished, City Council rejected the recommendations from the Historic Preservation Board, the Planning Board, Greater Portland Landmarks, and dozens of others who testified in support of maintaining its contributing status. By doing so, City Council undermined a crucial ordinance that protects historic resources across the city, setting precedent for future challenges and losses in all of Portland's historic districts as well as local historic districts across the country.
GPL continues to believe that there is a better solution that would allow for expansion of the museum without the loss of a contributing structure and remains in contact with leadership at PMA to further dialogue about alternatives.
GPL staff members recently attended Nonprofit Advocacy Day at the State House to learn more about advocacy processes in state government and connect with other Maine nonprofits. We also submitted a letter of support for a bill that would expand the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit in Maine.
Maine Association of Nonprofits is sending a memo to Congress outlining the many benefits of nonprofits. GPL added our name to this letter and supports efforts to demonstrate the critical role of nonprofits to our communities' most valued services.
We were thrilled to welcome our new spring intern, Estelle Smith, last week from the University of Southern Maine! Estelle is a history major and will be helping with digitization, research, and various advocacy efforts. Estelle is particularly interested in the history of relationships between different cultures, especially international relations.
What's on our mind:
Like our colleagues around the country, we continue to monitor the sweeping changes being implemented by the federal government. This rash course of action could threaten funding, staff, policies, and protections for the nation's historic resources. As more information becomes available, we will communicate action you can take to advocate for historic preservation.
