Livable Portland News: 10/24/2022

🎃 Happy Halloween 👻 and Election Day 🗳️ Portland. Wherever you stand on the issues make sure to remember to vote on Tuesday, November 1st or mail in your ballot to have your voice heard!

Livable Portland Updates

We are finalizing our Re-Code Suggestions at our next meeting. Please take a look at the draft so far. Can't make it? No worries. Send votes/suggestions to me in an email or on discord.

I apologize for the lack of notifications for the last meeting. Not many people were aware and it looks like some people may have tried to join and were unable. I will be better about notifications and make sure the Zoom meeting is working properly in the future.

We have our next general meeting Thursday, November 3rd at 8 PM! Please feel free to suggest agenda items in the discord or in an email.

The Next Two Weeks

Upcoming Meetings

Don't forget! The District meetings are coming up. I am not putting each one here because each one isn't relevant to most people but they are on the Livable Portland Calendar.

• Portland Planning Board Meeting on 10/25/2022 at 4:30 PM (Agenda Link, Meeting Link)
  • (4:30 - 6:00) Workshop on Major Site Plan for Phase One of the Herald Square Development (385 Congress Street). Full Site Plan. This will be an 11 story, 156 Room, hotel and 9 condos in a B-3 zone.
  • (6:00 - 7:00) Workshop on zoning amendment for Roux Institute Campus. These changes will allow the campus to use an Institutional Overlay Zone (IOZ). Full Project Plan for the Campus.
  • (7:30) Update on Re-Code Phase 2
• Portland Remote Historic Preservation Meeting 10/26/2022 at 5:00 PM (Agenda Link, Meeting Link)
  • Public Hearing:
    • Certificate of Appropriateness for Proposed Alterations and Dormer Additions, 176 EASTERNPROMENADE
    • Certificate of Appropriateness for Proposed Alterations, Additions, Site Alterations, and New Construction,9 BOWDOIN STREET
    • Review & Recommendation to Maine Historic Preservation Commission regarding National RegisterBoundary Increase/Additional Documentation for 605 STEVENS AVENUE
  • Workshop:
    • Preliminary Review of Proposed Construction of New Gazebo; WESTERN PROMENADE (51 VALLEYSTREET)
• Portland Remote Rent Board Meeting on 10/26/2022 at 5:00 PM (Agenda Link, Meeting Link)
• Audit of Lambert/Washington/Summit Area hosted by Portland Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on 10/29/2022 at 10:30 (501 Summit St, Portland, ME 04103)
• Portland Housing and Economic Development Committee Meeting on 11/01/2022 at 5:30 PM
  • No agenda yet
• Construction Tour of 201 Federal Street at 11/02/2022 at 4:00 PM Sign Up Link
• Portland Historic Preservation Meeting on 11/02/2022 at 5:00 PM
  • No agenda yet
• Portland Remote Zoning Board of Appeals on 11/03/2022 at 6:00 PM
  • No agenda yet

The Last Two Weeks

Media

• Ferguson: “I’m Not Going to Drag My Feet With Endless Meetings”: An interview of Nathaniel Ferguson, a candidate for Portland's District 3 City Council Seat, by the Portland Townsman
• Is NY’s rent law unconstitutional? Second Circuit to rule: This is a very important and under-reported story. A legal case over New York City's recent rent control provisions may make it all the way to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court rules the law unconstitutional it may have far reaching implications for rent control laws around the country.
• More than 60,000 Rent-Stabilized Apartments Are Now Vacant — and Tenant Advocates Say Landlords Are Holding Them for ‘Ransom’: This is an article that provides some background on the fight about NYC's recent rent control policy. The legal case here may have implications for the whole country.
• Why do people like HOAs?: A new City Beautiful video on Home Owner's Associations
• Port Property acquires West Bayside portfolio for $25M: A report about a recent major property purchase in West Bayside by Port Property
• Pedestrian Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Sidewalk Snow Clearance, CIP Request: A letter from the Pedestrian Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to the Council about Sidewalk Snow Clearance
• Pilot Project Uses Mushrooms to Decarbonize Construction Waste: A project to sustainably deal with construction waste
• Livable Low-carbon City: A podcast by a Seattle-based architect Michael Eliason discussing how to make our cities both more sustainable and more livable
• Housing is top issue for South Portland council at-large candidates: A Portland Press Herald Article detailing South Portland City Council candidates in a race where affordable housing is a central issue