My initial list of 5 recommendations for Portland, Maine are as follows:<\/p>\n
1. Integration of Back Cove to Old Port\/Downtown area;<\/p>\n
2. Statuesque icon\/landmark;<\/p>\n
3. More open\u00a0waterfronts;<\/p>\n
4. Less seasonal attractions that can boost tourism all year round, such as casinos, or other forms of one-stop entertainment center;<\/p>\n
5. Green roofs.<\/p>\n
After careful consideration and contemplation about long-term benefits, I have decided the two most urgent suggestions is to initiate the Back Cove-Downtown Project, and the Entertainment Center Project.<\/p>\n
One of my biggest considerations is Portland relatively low population. Portland’s population has been relatively steady for the past years while most cities’ population have grown considerably. A lot of the other ideas our classmates have come up with, such as better public transportation, would readily come into place with increased population and increased demand. \u00a0A greater population would also increase Portland’s competitiveness and service-related industries, among many other positive influences.<\/p>\n
Currently, Portland’s population shows seasonality\u2014booming tourism during the summer, with much less inhabitants during the winter. Portland needs attractions that are not affected by different seasons, and a big casino\/entertainment center would serve this purpose. It would attract tourists and visitors all year round, while also becoming a significant contributor to Portland’s economy, \u00a0boosting tax income and potentially creating tens of thousands of jobs. The complex could also feature shopping malls, restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, etc, to become an essentially a one-stop resort destination in New England. This also works well with Maine’s vacationland image and strategy. If built aesthetically pleasant, the complex could also become a statuesque icon\/landmark of the City.<\/p>\n
Portland downtown is a peninsula, with I-295 as the limits on land. This creates a confinement that in turn limits Portland downtown’s possibility of expanding and developing. Looking at Downtown Boston, which is similar to Portland in many ways, we can see the Boston Downtown does not have a thruway barrier, and other regions on the peripherals of the center have emerged as commercial centers, such as Back Bay, Newbury St, Prudential Center, etc. Major thruways like the I-93 and I-90 have gone underground to create space for city development and increase the city’s walkability.<\/p>\n
Back Cove is geographically adjacent to Old Port, though separated from the latter by I-295. Bringing I-295 underground would not only allow Portland Downtown to continue grow, but would also open access to Back Cove from downtown, and also possibly integrate Back Cove into the Downtown region, which would also open up a huge waterfront for increased public access. Reclaimed land can also be used for valuable waterfront development and high value real estate. It can also be used to create a giant “Central Park,” surrounding Back Cove, for Portland. More housing and development will also in turn attract more population to Portland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My initial list of 5 recommendations for Portland, Maine are as follows: 1. Integration of Back Cove to Old Port\/Downtown area; 2. Statuesque icon\/landmark; 3. More open\u00a0waterfronts; 4. Less seasonal attractions that can boost tourism all year round, such as casinos, or other forms of one-stop entertainment center; 5. Green roofs. After careful consideration and … Continue reading Revitalizing Portland: Population growth and acceleration<\/span>