carol jackson of andover, ME THANKYOU TO THE HISTORICAL SOC, FOR THAT WONDERFUL VIDEO
I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT UNION STATION WAS DEMOLISHED,TODAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL LANDMARK TO REMEMBER.
I HOPE THAT THE NEW PIER WILL BE BUILT WITH ALL CONSIDERED,INCLUDING A PUBLIC FISHING SPACE AND PARK. PORTLAND IS A GRAND CITY AND THE PIER SHOULD REFLECT HER BEAUTY
CAROL JACKSONreport abuse

Pat Daley of Sarasota, FL I know it's important for the city's economy to have something done with the Pier to start generating revenues again.

And there is the issue on the table about the height of the proposed project in front of the Planning Board that hopefully will have a happy medium reached. Yes, I'm against the proposed height that needs approval.

But not opposed at all to a LOCAL or MAINE company doing the construction work and final ownership.

If this presentation is to make everyone gooey about wanting the project done and saying ok, let the guy have his extra 26 or so feet of building towering over the rest of the waterfront - it may have done its job.

Remember, give one person an inch and the rest will want a foot or more just because.

Here on Siesta Key, one house on the beach side was granted to go to within 5 feet of property lines and 3 stories tall. Now you can't see the ocean for all the rest on Midnight Pass Road ~ just like Old Orchard and its hotel/condos.

If you want to preserve the historical area without impeding progress ~ keep the height limits that are in place already.report abuse

Jim Slowe of Boozebay, ME david wheaton of windham, ME
Mar 25, 2009 9:03 AM
Look no further than Halifax NS to see how we should use the waterfront. The boardwalk and pier area is the focus of their redeveloped waterfront and the area that tourists flock to when visiting. Keep the area family friendly and focus on the heritage of the area and the port. Halifax has figured out how to balance a working waterfront with also being an area that is enticing to visit.


Dave..I hear you! You're 100% right. I lived in Halifax for 3 years and loved it. The city has successfully balanced a working waterfront with revitalization that both enrourages development but doesn't surrender it to yuppie condos.

Portland would be very fortunate to have it's waterfront molded down the same avenue as Halifax. It's the only way to keep it's identity and soul plus get investment and business to get on board.report abuse

catsome of portland, ME Great piece, Nice to see the PPH serving the community that wears it's name , instead of skwewering it for a change. Maybe our future lies in being true to our past??? Couldn't "make" the last meeting or this one because of conflicting CITY meetings. Made me feel like I was there none the less.report abuse

Scott Hanson of Topsham, ME The last grain elevator referred to is the last Grand Trunk elevator, torn down in '74.

Thanks for your comments, I appreciate all the positive feedback.report abuse

MarkHB of Portland, ME I do question one item in the story. Where it says "the city's last grain elevator," does that refer to the last Grand Trunk elevator, or does it include the New England Feeds grain elevator which used to be somewhere near Long Wharf? Because I've been wondering when that was torn down.report abuse

Ben Matlock of The Pine Tree State, ME I'm pleasantly surprised to see comments that would have echoed my own --

Good reporting. We need more of this.report abuse

homeboy of Portland, ME The story was written by a real reporter,Tom Bell, who understands that at the core of reporting is the word objectivity, and it shows in every piece that he writes. Sadly, stories by Kelly Bouchard, who was previously on the City beat up until recently, show that she clearly has no concept of what being a reporter is all about, and that objectivity is clearly not in her vocabulary. Now if the assignment editor would just be kind enough to give us Elbert Aull back on the school board beat, we would all rest easier at night knowing that we were being told the unvarnished truth...report abuse

David Brown of Portland, ME Ok. Maybe the voice was a little dry. Maybe the presentation lacked a little pizazz. It might have been nice to be able to read the narrative instead or as well.
What a great feature, though. It was interesting, well organized, clear and uncluttered. I felt I had a much clearer perspective on this State Pier issue.
Could this be a part of a brighter future for our threatened print newspaper?report abuse

Rebel of Portland, ME While I applaud their efforts, I do have some complaints - if they REALLY want public output why: 1.) Don't they have these meetings in a more central place for everyone to get to (and how is the parking down in that area at night??) 2.)set up a website where anyone can log on and comment or disagree on various aspect of the project?report abuse