o. 3, free 3, o. er de n I V Ins What’s What’s ol. 37, 37, ol. V Marker Marker Program 6 PAGE Air Sealing Old Home Your 8 PAGE Norm Nelson Norm Who We Are: Who We 5 PAGE ser B nter 2012–2013, 2012–2013, nter I W o Captions here... Save Our Place Our Save in Peril Places O T PHO CAVERLY TODD LANDMARKS Inc. landmarks, portland greater our future our homes, neighborhoods, Permit No. 396 No. Permit Portland, ME 04101 ME Portland, A I D I A P U. S. Postage S. U. Non Profit Org. Profit Non SAVE THE DATE: March 23 & 24, 2013 WHere THere’S A Will… Estate planning involves important decisions that reflect your passions and beliefs. When preparing your will, please consider including Greater Portland Landmarks as a Holiday Inn by the Bay beneficiary. (next door to Greater Portland Landmarks offices) For further 33 Spring Street ~ Portland, ME information, please contact Hilary Bassett at 207-774-5561 x101 We invite you to become a member of Greater Portland landmarks! Call (207) 774-5561 www.portlandlandmarks.org GPL filler ad Dear Members and Friends: PreservatIon uPdates ruce katz of the brookings institution was in Augusta October 23 for GrowSmart Maine’s Summit to review progress made toward the recommenda- tions of their groundbreaking study, Charting Maine’s Future published in 2006. The 2012 follow up report, Making Headway, evaluates each recommendation, cites specific examples, and notes lessons learned. “Remember what makes you special and Maine Jewish Museum Bcapitalize on that,” Katz said. “Focus on assets, not liabilities.” He added that among the state’s strongest assets are its historic cities and small towns and the natural landscape – an exceptional receives landmarks Award quality of place that sets Maine apart. See the report at www.growsmartmaine.org. t its Annual Meeting, Greater Four Landmarks board members, two advisory trustees, and I attended the gathering of more Portland Landmarks presented than 400 people, including preservation advocates, environmentalists, city and town planners, A a Preservation Honor Award to the Maine Jewish Museum for the pres- elected officials, educators, real estate developers, farm- ervation and revitalization of the former ers, foresters, bureaucrats, and business owners. That Etz Chaim Synagogue (1921) as a muse- interesting combination of attendees led to animated um to celebrate Jewish life and culture discussions and information sharing throughout the in Maine. The building is a fine example day. I had the good fortune to reconnect with many of of a turn-of-the-century immigrant-era my fellow participants in the Quality of Place Council, house of worship, with a beautiful carved mahogany Holy Ark, recently-restored a reminder of another of the state’s great assets – people stained-glass windows, original light who really care about protecting and enhancing our fixtures, and a newly re-opened third floor women’s and children’s balcony. distinctive sense of place. Landmarks recognized the dedicated volunteers who founded the Tree “Communities need to get over the fear of historic of Life Foundation in 2008 for their exciting vision and dynamic leadership preservation,” said Greg Paxton of Maine Preservation. in creating the Museum, which broadens public understanding of Maine’s “It has helped more cities renew themselves.” Reports Jewish history, art, and culture, and brings new vitality to Portland’s historic India Street neighborhood. from three grassroots preservationists showed tremen- dous creativity in preserving historic resources. Tobias Parkhurst of Augusta couldn’t find an apartment, so City to Undertake india he bought an old building, fixed it up, and recruited a restaurant as a first-floor tenant. Hugh French joined fellow citizens in a sustained public and private effort to revitalize 20 historic buildings in downtown Eastport by packaging projects in Street Master Plan imaginative ways. Jonathan Arnold of Kansas City, a developer trained as an architect, learned he Portland Planning Department will undertake a master planning effort for the India Street neighborhood that will include additional research on from a friend about a vacant mill in Dover-Foxcroft, took a look, and was hooked. He is now T historic properties that could implementing the town’s vision for a mixed use development that combines housing, a small be part of a potential historic district. hotel, and retail and community gathering space. The site of Portland’s first settlement, We were pleased to hear that historic preservation, notably Maine’s historic preservation tax India Street is also important as a credit, is a great success story. The report states: “From 2008-2012, 55 privately developed historic City gateway, especially for cruise preservation projects invested $200 million during the heart of the real estate downturn.” Yet, ships. In 2002 Landmarks conducted a preliminary survey of the area. More there is still more to be done to survey, invest in, and preserve the historic buildings, neighbor- recently, members of the India Street hoods, and landscapes that are such important community assets. Neighborhood Association have been At the end of the day, we saw four powerful filmed testimonials, once again emphasizing advocating for the master plan, as the people whose vision and action make this state a better place. Portland’s John Coleman, India Street undergoes rapid transfor- CEO of the Via Agency, reflected on his company’s move to the former Baxter Library of 1888 mation with three major housing and on Congress Street. There, historic preservation, contemporary interior design, and whimsi- mixed-use developments underway or starting soon. Four of the seven Places in Peril announced by Greater Portland Landmarks are in or adjacent to the cal art join forces to inspire creativity – a fine example of Bruce Katz’s challenge to make the neighborhood. The planning process will coordinate with a study guiding the most of what makes Maine unique. n future redevelopment of the Franklin Arterial. – HilARY BASSETT Executive Director STAFF oFFICers trustees advIsory trustees Hilary D. Bassett Marjorie Getz Robert E. Cleaves IV Eric D. Altholz Harland H. Eastman William A. Macleod Gail S. Schwarzer Executive Director President Joseph Conforti Eleanor G. Ames Stephen Foote Mallory Kirk Marshall Aurelia C. Scott Sharon Colgan David Robinson James Cram Richard Anderson Roger Gilmore Nancy N. Masterton Jeffrey Selser Office and Executive Vice President Carol DeTine Howard Arnold Carol S. Goloff Nancy V. Montgomery John C. Serrage Financial Manager Sharon Miller Richard Gilbane Marc Bagala Douglas Green Jane Smith Moody Lynn E. Shaffer Christopher Closs Secretary Claire Hammen Ursula Baier Dawn E. Hamilton Linda J. Murnik Marjorie Shaw Preservation Tom Dowd Julie Larry Guy W. Bertsch Charles Hall Robert A. Nielsen, Jr. Alice Spencer Services Advisor Treasurer Lynda Means Joyce K. Bibber Tom S. Hanson Ted O’Meara Mary Louise Sprague Jennifer Pollick Thomas Elliman Michael Mertaugh Victoria Bonebakker Cynthia Henriques Pamela P. Plumb Seth Sprague Manager of Marketing Patrick Morin Gregory W. Boulos Edward Hobler Caroline Pratt Sam W. Van Dam Education Programs Jane Briggs John Reed Houghton Sally W. Rand Jos Van Mierlo Sally G. Oldham Nicholas Noyes Shawn Hunt Public Issues Cordelia Pitman Barbara Webster Brown John C. Knox Charles W. Redman III Barbara Vestal Office and Joan Burns Stephen S. Kolkhorst William S. Richards John C. Watson Malcolm L. Collins Roxanne Quimby Development Assistant Building Nan Sawyer Noelle Lord Castle Julie Ann Larry Christopher N. Robinson Carol Wilson Kate White Lewis Portia Clark Candice Thornton Lee Joan Ross Donald N. Zillman Norman Nelson Nate Stevens Director of Development Mary Murray Coleman Keri D. Lord Susan C. Ruch Development Thomas Stoughton Candice Thornton Lee Josiah H. Drummond, Jr. Victoria Loring Joel B. Russ Anna Marie Thron Elizabeth J. Dubois Susan Lucas John W. Ryan oBSERVER STAFF Greater Portland Landmarks promotes preservation and revitalization of historic Daphne Howland, Editor buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes and encourages high-quality new architecture O’Brien Design, Graphic Design to enhance the livability and economic vitality of Portland and surrounding communities. Sharon Colgan, Advertising Sales The Landmarks Observer is published by Greater Portland Landmarks, Inc., printed quarterly and mailed to the membership of Greater Portland Landmarks, Inc. Additional copies are distributed free to the general public. Reproduction of its Greater Portland Landmarks 93 High Street copyrighted contents and derivative works are encouraged in the cause of preservation. However, in order to constitute is supported by a generous Portland, ME 04101 authorization for republication, bylines must be retained and the credit should read: “From the Greater Portland Challenge Grant from the Landmarks Observer” followed by the date and volume number of the issue. For advertising rates and information (207) 774-5561 National Endowment for please contact Greater Portland Landmarks at (207) 774-5561 ext. 105. Copyright © Greater Portland Landmarks, Inc. 2012 the Humanities. www.portlandlandmarks.org Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 2 LANDMARKS OBSERVER / Winter 2012–2013 www.portlandlandmarks.org SAVE OUR PLACE: PLACES IN PERIL“I think everyone wants to live in Portland because of the fabric of a city gives its visitors