Title

The Working Waterfront Wars: Condos on a Portland Pier Was the Shot Heard Along the Coast

Authors

Tom Groening

Source

Island Journal

Date

2022

Pages

6-11

Abstract

An in-depth look at how those who make a living from the water in Maine's cities and towns are losing access to the working waterfront, pushed out by nonmarine development. In the mid-1980s, Portland's Central Wharf, later renamed Chandler's Wharf, was lost to the development of condos. It was a galvanizing moment; in 1987, activists got a referendum on the ballot to stop future construction of hotels and condos on the waterfront. But other towns have also been transformed by loss of waterfront access. The article examines the domino effect of the losses -- on the community and the environment -- and how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated development. The author also examines some of the solutions that have been or are being proposed.

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