The outcome of our case against Portland's City Council regarding 142 Free Street is disappointing and deeply concerning. While we believe that the building itself is historically significant and a contributing resource to the historic district, this case has always been about the integrity of Portland’s historic preservation ordinance. Click here for a summary of why this is so important, and why because of PMA’s action and City Council’s vote, Portland could lose so much more than one building.

Updates on our recent advocacy efforts:

Music Hall at 244 Cumberland Avenue: Mile Marker Investments, a local developer, in partnership with Live Nation has proposed a new Music Hall across from Merrill Auditorium in Portland’s Arts District. After attending a public meeting earlier this year where a number of concerns were expressed about the proposal, GPL invited the project team to meet with us for further discussion. We are not satisfied that our concerns were heard at that meeting.

Our Director of Advocacy, Alison Frazee, then attended a Planning Board workshop on March 20th where the architect for the project, DAIQ, described the design as taking cues from historic warehouses but with modern touches, intentionally devoid of detail and articulation. Unlike the Music Hall recently completed by the same team in Boston with architectural detail, rich materials, and a contextual design, the architect claimed that Portland is a much “simpler” city than Boston, with less architectural detail, and therefore it is appropriate to build a warehouse in Portland. We strongly disagree with this sentiment; Portland has a robust architectural collection with a variety of expressions to inspire new design. Portland deserves nothing less in quality of design, materials, and detail than Boston.

This is a prominent site and a gateway to the Arts District. A new building here should respond more thoughtfully and generously to that context and the streetscapes. Alison provided brief comments at the workshop and GPL plans to submit more detailed feedback soon. Because so many people attended the workshop that an overflow room was needed, the Planning Board said that a second workshop would be scheduled for further public comment.

West Bayside Development: We are taking a closer look at the West Bayside Master Development Plan, in process since 2022. Recently, the proposal for 61 Preble Street was changed to demolition. We are reviewing the significance of this property, as well as other properties within the project scope that are slated to be demolished.

Gorham Connector: GPL opposes the proposed Gorham Connector that calls for the construction of a highway through historic spaces in Westbrook and Scarborough, namely the Smiling Hill Farm. We supported LD1020: An Act Repealing the Laws for the Gorham Connector yesterday and encouraged all involved to pursue other traffic solutions that would have a smaller impact on historic farmlands and open space.

What we are thinking about:

As members of a broader coalition of historic preservation advocates, GPL is aware of a trend of federal actions that are damaging, if not destroying, efforts to tell America’s story through our shared cultural heritage. We partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Preservation Partners Network (NPPN) to find solutions for common challenges, swap ideas and success stories, and support our colleagues across the country, many of whom are losing their jobs, funding, and authority.
We are deeply disturbed by the Trump administration’s flagrant efforts to whitewash American history in the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Executive Order, issued March 27, 2025. NPPN has issued a statement outlining recent federal actions impacting historic preservation, from drastic cuts to staffing and funding at the National Park Service to freezes at the Historic Preservation Fund to censure and erasure of American history.
For too long, our history books and historic places have neglected to represent the full and truthful narrative of this country. This has resulted in an unbalanced historical record in the built environment, with the homes, churches and monuments of glorified white history more often preserved, while those of communities whose stories are not told have been altered or torn down. Preservation is rightly moving in the right direction, broadening the understanding of who and what are considered significant contributions to history and reassessing how we preserve, protect, and interpret that history. The last decade or so has seen significant improvement: new research and interpretation at historic sites, more voices and experiences on boards and commissions, and stronger policies and processes to protect underrepresented places.
Actions by the current administration erode much of this progress and signal a false belief that Americans are not capable of understanding or willing to acknowledge the hard, sad, and uncomfortable periods of our past. We the people cannot go backwards. What we are seeing (and what is now threatened) is the much overdue filling in of significant gaps to make sure we tell a full history and fully grasp the mistakes and missteps in our history.
There is still much to do, even in – maybe especially in – Portland where our history as a thriving port has benefitted from the contributions of Black longshoremen and mariners, offered sanctuary to people of African descent fleeing enslavement, and was enriched by the trade of goods produced by enslaved African labor in Cuba and the Caribbean. Portland has many more stories to tell.
Greater Portland Landmarks will not tolerate blatantly racist policies. We will continue to work with our partners locally and nationally to oppose these actions and denounce the administration's false assertions in the Executive Order. We encourage you to use your voice and contact your representatives in support of historic preservation funding, staffing, and autonomy. As more information becomes available, we will share specific action items. We always appreciate hearing from you- let us know your concerns, experiences, and advocacy.