City of Portland

The $2.5 million project is the initial phase of First Light Commons, being built on a 3.5-acre portion of a former parking lot near the Ocean Gateway cruise ship terminal.

The 3.45-acre tract along Somerset Street, stretching from Franklin to Elm streets, between Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, is separated into four lots. The city will consider offers for one or multiple parcels.

The planned reconstruction of the busy Congress Square intersection, first started in 2022, is now expected to wrap up by the end of October.

The four-lane arterial, which stretches from Commercial Street to Marginal Way and I-295, is being considered for upgrades to improve safety and accessibility.

When Portland property owners receive their FY 26/27 tax bills this month, they’ll see that the mil rate has increased 4.9% over last year’s rate; up to $12.58 per thousand dollars of assessed value, from $11.98 last year.

A new report finds that the city has one of the tightest rental markets in the country, with rates running 13% higher than the national average.

Greg Watson had been on paid administrative leave since March, after having been summonsed for an alleged assault on Congress Street on Feb. 20. Charges were later dropped.

After a number of serious accidents involving pedestrians and automobiles, including multiple fatalities, over the past few years, the city of Portland is stepping up efforts to improve safety for walkers and bikers.

The 130-year-old park, which was originally served by a trolley from Monument Square, will get new pedestrian walkways and a designated food truck space.

The city of Portland is launching an initiative to increase and better manage its trees, which help to cool the urban landscape and fight pollution.