Portland delays landmark designation for Forest Avenue properties
Photo / Maureen Milliken
330 Forest Ave. is one of 17 buildings on the street and at Woodford's Corners being considered for historic designation.
Historic landmark designation for 17 properties on and near Portland's Forest Avenue is on hold while the City Council studies how the designation would affect property owners.
After members of the City Council said they had questions and wanted to look further into concerns of property owners, the council Monday night delayed a decision on the request until Oct. 21.
The city's historic preservation board in July unanimously approved the designation.
Christine Grimando, acting director of planning and urban development, told the council the move is in line with others that the city has taken in the western part of the city, that preservation is important to Portland's identity and important to economic growth, and that the city's Portland 2030 plan identifies Forest Avenue as a priority corridor. The plan "recognizes preservation can be an economic, sustainability and community development strategy."
She said the proposal is an extension of the planning focus on the area, but also doesn't prohibit expansion or redevelopment of buildings, recognizes their significance "and would provide a framework for how they would change over time."
Penny Pollard, of the historic preservation commission, said the area represents an important chapter in the city's history, including a new streetcar line serving the emerging Deering neighborhoods, as well as its history in the also emerging auto industry.
"Fortunately, a number of well-preserved buildings remain to tell the story and they provide a unique character to this section of Forest."
She said from the beginning the board understood the importance of preserving historic buildings while not impeding economic development.
Commenters at the city council meeting Monday echoed many who spoke at the historic preservation meeting, saying the buildings aren't historic and the designation will hurt development in that area of the city.
Typical of Monday's remarks, which stretched for almost an hour, was Tim Wells, a city resident who said Forest Avenue is "pretty ugly" and the designation would be poor policy.
"These buildings don't add to the fabric of the city," Wells said. "You don't drive down Forest Ave and say, 'Oh, I want to live here.'"
But others advocated for the benefits of historic preservation, saying it spurs economic development and creates jobs.
Kate O'Brien, of Friends of Woodfords Corners, said preservation has "a proven track record" of boosting development.
"It benefits us all," she said.
'Auto Row'
The strip of Forest Avenue, once known as Auto Row, met the minimum requirements for landmark designation under the city's land use code, the historic preservation board agreed. The buildings' merits under the code were discussed separately, then all were sent to the council for final approval. Several public hearings were held in the months before the vote.
Some of the buildings also have architectural significance, including 660 Forest Ave., the former Vallee's restaurant, now home to Woodford Food & Beverage, a rare example in the city of mid-century modern style; the Oakhurst Dairy building at 364 Forest Ave., an award-winning example of "international style" architecture; the Art Deco former Firestone building at 309 Forest Ave.; and the Beaux-Arts former Hinds Laboratory at 331 Forest Ave.
The 17 buildings proposed for historic landmark designation are, including original use and year they were built:
- 536 Deering Ave., Engine Company No. 8 Firehouse, 1907;
- 309 Forest Ave., Firestone Auto Supply & Service Store, 1930-31;
- 330 Forest Ave., Van Blarcom Inc. auto garage, 1919;
- 331 Forest Ave., Hinds Laboratory, 1920;
- 343-349 Forest Ave., Miles B. Mank Motor Car Co., 1916-17;
- 355 Forest Ave., L.C. Gilson Automobile Co., 1922;
- 364 Forest Ave., Oakhurst Dairy, 1951-53;
- 495 Forest Ave., Packard Motor Car Co. showroom, 1927;
- 501 Forest Ave., Gleason Chrysler auto dealership, 1927,
- 517 Forest Ave., Clifton R. Shaw auto dealership, 1928;
- 525 Forest Ave., John S. Goff Chevrolet, 1927-28;
- 533 Forest Ave., Studebaker automobile dealership, 1928;
- 617 Forest Ave., Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. store, 1915;
- 630 Forest Ave., Darling-Kidder Motor Car Co., 1917;
- 643-651 Forest Ave., Odd Fellows Block, 1897;
- 646-650 Forest Ave., Chapman Block, 1916; and
- 660 Forest Ave., Valle’s Sandwich Shop, 1964.
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"I'll fight to the last drop of someone else's blood!" That seems analogous to preservationists attempting to dictate the use of other's private property. In suggesting that old one-story buildings along Forest Ave. that once housed auto dealerships is part of the city's fabric and ought to be preserved is simply projecting one's values on someone else's investment. If it came without restriction, that might be fine but the "honor" of being designated as an historic structure impairs the owner's rights and, therefore, is a taking. Few if any of the old dealerships display the original signs of the automakers or other exterior features that would suggest their original use. It makes no sense. AND, to think that the old Vallee's sandwich shop is architecturally significant makes me laugh. I was a kid growing up in Deering Center when an old movie theater was cleared away to make room for Vallee's in 1964. Though it is distinctive, it surely is not historic and is completely out of character in that neighborhood. Heck, by that standard, one would worry that the city will designate the Maine School of Law as worthy of preservation which would be an affront to the neighbors and impair the future of that institution. Let Forest Avenue evolve and become the thoroughfare of commerce it always has enjoyed. Investment will dictate its highest and best use.
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