🔒MEREDA conference shows Maine’s pockets of growth

If we use real estate as an indicator of economic health, certain areas in Maine are indeed springing to life.

Speakers at the recent MEREDA conference in Portland emphasized again and again that Portland and some other areas of Maine have shortages of housing, office and warehouse space. Bangor, Augusta, Saco-Biddeford and other cities are also encouraged by a growing demand for real estate, one sign of a healthy economy. Developers and contractors are responding to the need, but for now the shortage of space means an increase in rents and compression into surrounding markets.

For our cover story, Senior Writer James McCarthy talks to developers, architects and urban planners about Portland and how it should strike a balance between growth and preservation. It's a hot topic, as exemplified by the battle and referendum over the 58 Fore St. mixed-use proposal. Yet the city can't get anywhere without a plan for growth. To do that requires getting a lot of stakeholders to the table. Jim's story furthers the discussion.

Don’t give up on Maine’s young people

In Maine we frequently hear how our young people beat a path across state lines sometime after getting their drivers' licenses. Yet I've have been lucky to meet some smart and extremely capable young business leaders in recent weeks.

Ben Davis, 29, is captain and owner of True Course Yachting Inc., a yacht charter business based in Yarmouth. He has worked as a charter captain based out of Maui, has led surfing tours in Costa Rica and is overseeing the construction of charter yachts in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Damariscotta native started True Course Yachting four years ago, with its first work a contract with FEMA to improve upon the maps of the Maine coast. Now they're setting up charters, but the really wise thing the company did was take on yacht detailing. Much like you'd have your car detailed, his crew works goes directly to the boatyard or marina to do the work, and soon the boat owner is on his or her way. The True Course staff now numbers 10 people, but Davis says there are plans to hire more.

Barrett Takesian, 25, president of Portland Community Squash, is trying to do with squash what others have done with tennis, golf, rowing, sailing and some other sports that have gone to lengths to shed their highbrow roots. The Bowdoin grad leads a program to mentor middle school and high school students and get them involved in squash. The nonprofit has already raised $500,000 toward the goal of $1 million. Plans call for a dedicated squash center with eight courts and two classrooms.

These are leaders we can learn from.

Speaking of young people

Mainebiz has a new online editor, Kevin Steeves. Much of what he does is behind the scenes, as we have him anchored to his desk most of the day. But you might have noticed his presence on the Daily email, the Real Estate Insider and the Weekly.

Kevin came to Mainebiz through our tried-and-true pipeline of local college grads that included Darren Fishell (now with the Bangor Daily News), Dylan Martin (now with BostInno in Boston) and Paul Koenig (now with Old Port magazine). We're happy to have Kevin as part of the Mainebiz team. He's already brought energy and new thinking to our digital operation. Welcome aboard.

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