Portland at a crossroads : downtown safety tensions taking a toll on small businesses, real estate

Renee Cordes

Source

Mainebiz

Date

7-28-2025

Pages

12-17

Abstract

"Graffiti, overflowing trash cans, drug paraphernalia, boarded-up windows, and barricaded entryways are common sights, with close to a dozen vacant storefronts, laying bare the economic cost to a city that prides itself as a tourist mecca. Today, the small city has big-city problems."

Article addresses downtown blight, with observations from residents, business owners, and developers. Page 15 includes a map of vacant commercial spaces situated on Congress Street, between Congress Square and Monument Square. Sidewalk cleanup efforts by the organization Portland Downtown are also described.

Full text is not available here. Please contact the Library for a copy of the article.

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