Proposed Portland venue moves forward
A 400-seat performance center proposed for Portland’s Munjoy Hill is moving forward after the City Council approved a conditional zoning agreement on Monday.
The Portland Press Herald reported that the 54-foot-tall building still requires approval from the city’s planning and historic preservation boards. But the City Council’s Monday approval means the building’s developer, nonprofit Friends of the St. Lawrence Arts Center, will be able to build the performance center without having to provide off-street parking.
The lack of additional parking in the area has been a concern for some residents. But Jonathan Radke, who spoke during the council’s public hearing, said that shouldn’t prevent the Friends from redeveloping what was once a blighted area.
The Friends are seeking to raise an estimated $6 million to $7 million for construction costs, with plans to open the facility by late 2016 or early 2017. The group has agreed to pay $70,000 a year to increase the frequency of the Metro bus service’s route through Munjoy Hill.
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