October 2009

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 315)

This is no joke and MHN apologizes for the error.

MHN took photographs of  kids and adults dressed for Halloween, but my camera BROKE – yes it did and I can’t transfer them to my computer.

My sincere apologies.

Carol McCracken

Pat Eltman, Director Office of Tourism, Officer Gayle Petty, and Barbara M. Whitten, President, Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau at the Marriott Opening

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 314)

In mid-October Officer Gayle Petty took up her new responsibilities as Lead Officer for Sector One (includes the Hill, Kennedy Park and East Bayside).  The initiative was introduced by Chief James Craig to enable officers to work closely with communities in the city and to enhance policing and response by police.

According to Officer Petty yesterday afternoon, the program is working.  She is receiving numerous calls and emails that were listed on this blog on October 13th.  She’s receiving some “very helpful information” from cell phone calls and her email address as well that was made public on MHN.   So, once again her cell phone number is:  650-8770 and her email address is:  gaylep@portlandmaine.gov.  Please keep this information handy, should you need it.

Officer Petty said there has been a “rash of criminal activity” in the past several weeks.  She divides the criminal activity into two classes.  First, there are the drug driven crimes which result in residential burglary and stealing;  laptop computers are targeted here. Entry into homes is often through unlocked doors.  The other crimes are motor vehicle burglaries.  Electronic equiment such as IPods and GPS equipment left visible are the targets here.  Visible valuable items are an invitation to criminals – so cover valuable items up, said Officer Petty.  “And please keep your doors locked as well”, she added.

The Atlantic Street and Morning Street areas of the Hill have been especially hard-hit by criminals, Officer Petty said.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 313)

Ara Aftandilian, an investor, Greg A. Mitchell, Director of Ec. Development, and Mayor Jill Duson visiting at yesterday's reception

Mayor Jill Duson welcomed the Residence Inn by Marriott to the east end of Portland in an opening celebration yesterday afternoon.  In her welcoming remarks, the Mayor said:  “This opening is a significant achievement, not just for the Marriott but for the city as a whole as it brings us one step closer to realizing our vision for a revitalized and reimagined Eastern Waterfront.  This Inn will serve as a cornerstone for the development of the Eastern Waterfront, as it provides the area with future retail space and creates more pedestrian traffic on the East side of Franklin Arterial.”

“In these economic times, tonight’s opening is a good news story,” she said.

According to one Marriott official, the concept for a residence inn came about in 1983 and the concept has been growing ever since.  The Portland Marriott is the 602nd to be built and the first one to be built in Portland.  Shortly thereafter Mayor Duson cut the ribbon.  That tradition was followed by another tradition in which Marriott officials dropped the front door key into a bucket never to be used again; that symbolizes that the front door of the Marriott is always open – 24/7.

Around 200 attended the function which included community members, business leaders, city leaders as well as 8 members of the hotel’s management from Kansas, where the corporate headquarters are located.  This hotel is located at 145 Fore Street.

Management said they’ve been extremely pleased with the occupancy rate since July when it opened:  when asked why so successful so soon, Dick Merkan, an executive vice president said: 
“Because of the name Marriott on the buiding!”

That says it all.

Charlie Poole and Steve Dimillo, wharf owners, also addressed the planning board on behalf of WCZ

By Carol McCracken (Post # 312)

Controversy and the waterfront are synonymous in the history of Portland’s coastline.   Public access and private control are the primary issues that have divided the two communities and caused bitter struggles between the two.  One can only hope that the latest proposal by a group of waterfront property owners – the Waterfront Central Zone – will not reopen old wounds that have dominated the discourse on the Hill in the recent past.

Dick Ingalls, former Portland Harbor Commissioner, represented a coalition of wharf  owners, “WCZ” yesterday in its petition that would permit 50% of dockside space replace the  10% now permitted for mixed use; that  50% of ground floor space be changed to mixed use; that the current 100 ft. rule be replaced by 150 ft.; and that the  mixed use allowances be relaxed to  allow for more diversity on the waterfront; and that a more equitable method be devised to allow property owners to request other individual improvements.  The owners are not advocating “for the return of residential/condominium development, but the requested changes are critical for the ability to continue to provide the City with well over a milltion dollars in real estate taxes and continued growth in jobs for the City of Portland,” said a letter dated October 10, 2009 from the owners to David Silk, Chair of the Planning Board.

Planning Board Vice Chair Bill Hall said:  “The whole concept of the working waterfront is in jeopaardy.  Is this concept the doom of the working waterfront?  I do think that changes are needed here.”   Chair Silk said to the owners:  “You are asking us to do 2 things at once.  The zoning has to be consistent with the city’s comphrensive plan.  They are in conflict with each other here.”

Senior planner Bill Needelman recommended  that the Planning Board conduct a walk-around on the waterfront before the next workshop which comes toward the end of November.   

Former Working Waterfront member and former member of the Planning Board, Jack Humeniuk, said following the meeting:  “Because the changes appear very broad based and effect the community, there has to be a much broader public participation if we are gong to make changes in the comprehensive plan.”  Munjoy Hill resident and attorney Barbara Vestal, formerly a member of the Working Waterfront coalition attended the planning board meeting but did not speak.