Portland’s City Council yesterday ended a months-long stalemate by selecting Portland-based Olympia Companies as the developer of the Maine State Pier.
Council elections in November, which replaced a supporter of Ocean Properties, Olympia’s rival for the project, with an Olympia supporter, broke a 4-4 deadlock that had stalled the council since September, according to the Portland Press Herald. The final vote in favor of Olympia’s plans, which include a hotel and retail space on the pier, was 6-3.
Though the city has finally selected a developer, the controversy continues: Councilors who voted against Olympia voiced concerns Monday that the company might not have the finances to complete the project, the paper reported.