Bouncing around
Back in 1986, when my husband and I decided we wanted to put down roots in Maine and raise a family here, we started looking for a home to buy. Having just spent a year living in an industrial city of 1 million people in central Mexico, we were pretty sure we didn't want to settle in a city — any city.
But we were charmed by Portland and its emerging cultural scene. So we drew up a list: first choice was a home on the coast; second was a big farm inland somewhere; and third was Portland.
As it turned out, we found a fixer-upper on the coast — that we, unbelievably, could afford — and settled there. But now that we're getting older, the lure of an urban setting and convenience to those cultural pursuits (now in full bloom) beckons. So there was some bemusement as I read Staff Writer Matt Dodge's piece on Portland's recovering condo market, “Condo bounce,” starting on page 22. The bounce is expected to be sustained by people like me — baby boomers who have had enough with balky septic systems, sagging roofs and long commutes.
Matt's story is just one of the features we present in this issue's focus on greater Portland. We also take a look at the city's recent economic scorecard in “Mixed grades,” on page 30 by Online Editor Darren Fishell. Portland's made great strides in some areas while losing a step in others. The local chamber is hoping to use the benchmarks to drive new ways business can work with education systems to engender work force development.
We also take a peek at new plans to revamp a section of Route 1 in Falmouth to create a little personality and encourage business development (currently lacking in both) in Contributing Writer Douglas Rooks' piece, “Strip tease,” starting on page 26.
But before you get into the meat of the issue, check out our cover story by Contributing Writer Bob Holtzman that brings us up to speed on new developments within Maine's storied boatbuilding industry in “Changing tides.” Bob tracks how technology is changing the way boats are put together and how they operate (iPad controls, anyone?). It's very cool.
We also dust off some long-held notions about electric-powered heat. (That fixer-upper we bought had baseboard electric heat and a woodstove. Guess which we used.) Senior Writer Jim McCarthy introduces us in his cover story to two new electric-powered heat sources that are gaining a foothold in the home and business heating markets. Both systems come with rebates and promises of super efficiency. Check it out.
And finally, we talk to Richard Cyr, CEO of Great Northern Paper Co., about his company's thirst to develop new products and markets. He's got a great vision for his company's future — one that integrates Maine's vast forests resources with economic development and renewable energy. Read about it in “On the record,” on page 33, and then check online for an extended conversation with Richard at mainebiz.biz/cyr.
And for the record, my husband and I are not likely to leave our fixer-upper anytime soon. But it's nice to know we're part of a demographic driving an upward bounce.
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