Public Art Committee

Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehy, Vice-Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning & Urban Development Department PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Wednesday, November 19, 2025 4:00 PM Hybrid Meeting (in person or online via Zoom link) City Hall, Room 209, 389 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 1. Zoom Meeting Information Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct this meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy. Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For more information on how to use Zoom, please go to: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c- 245db97e5c27?. Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875 Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875 International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM 2. Call to Order • Roll call • Review and approve minutes from October 15, 2025 meeting. 3. Staff Updates A. Public art fund balance: No reductions Presenter: Sean King No public comment will be taken B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art: No updates Page 1  Presenter: Sean King No public comment will be taken C. Collection updates Presenter: Sean King 1. Gorham Corner: The Committee recommended a relocation of the granite posts arranged around the perimeter of the John Ford statue during the October 15, 2025 meeting. Staff shared a diagram that is under review by the Public Works Department to consider winter maintenance associated with the preferred relocation of granite posts at the intersection of York St. and Pleasant St. 4. New Business A. Portland Harbor Common: A request for proposal (RFP) has been developed by the new acquisition subcommittee to commission artwork for a new waterfront park on the Eastern Waterfront. The Committee reviewed a draft of the RFP during its October 15, 2025 meeting. Staff recommends that the Committee make a motion to approve the draft RFP and authorize staff to proceed with the advertising process. Public comment will be taken B. Jewel Box bus shelter: Review and discussion of a request to use PPAC funds to replace glass damaged by corrosive graffiti, and a broader discussion regarding the future maintenance and upkeep of the shelter. Staff recommends that the Committee approve the use of existing PPAC funds to cover the cost of glass replacement. Public comment will be taken 5. Subcommittee Reports A. Governance/Board Development (Berke, Dennehy) 1. Committee chairs to share updates 2. Consideration to cancel December meeting B. Acquisitions (Formerly "Gifts") Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke, Gibbs) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates D. Collection Management (Formerly "Site Selection") Subcommittee (Dennehy, Gibbs, Berke, Zagaria) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates. 6. Project Reports A. Conservation Projects 1. Conservation assessment by Tuckerbrook Conservation LLC: Staff will provide an update on the schedule for performing the service. B. Maintenance Projects: No updates C. Portland Harbor Common new acquisition subcommittee (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque and Zagaria) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates. 7. Public Comment Period on Non-Agenda Items 8. Other Business 9. Meeting Adjourns Next Meeting - December 17, 2025 Page 2  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehy, Vice-Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning & Urban Development Department PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE October 15, 2025 Meeting Minutes 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. HYBRID (in person or online via Zoom link) City Hall – Room 209, 389 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct this meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy. Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For more information on how to use Zoom, please go to: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c-245db97e5c27?cache=1800 Public Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875 Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875 International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM ------------ 1. Call to Order (Berke) @ 4:07 + Roll call. Committee members present – Berke, Dennehy, Zagaria, Cole, Hrenko, Levesque, Motter, Whipple, Wilson), Committee members absent – Gibbs, Michniewicz + September 17, 2025 meeting minutes. Motion to approve (Whipple), Second (Zagaria), All approved by a show of hands 2. Staff Communications (King) A. Public art fund balance – Reduction of $3,560 for Rustle Dyptich II lighting installation. B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art – No updates 3. New Business A. Gorham’s corner roadway improvement project – Discuss the proposed relocation of the six granite posts around the John Ford sculpture within the public art collection. In addition, The City is Page 3  hosting a public meeting to gather feedback and concerns from the public, scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM in the Kippy Richardson Conference Room 24 on the basement level in City Hall. The Committee recommended a tighter grouping to maintain the relationship of engraved text on the granite posts with the sculpture of John Ford. Staff will provide Committee recommendations to Public Works Staff. 4. New Business & Subcommittee Reports A. Governance/Board Development (Berke, Dennehy) 1. Annual plan report FY25 & Proposed budget FY26 presented to City Council on October 6, 2025. City Council voted unanimously (7-0, Councilor Fournier & Sykes were absent) to approve the annual report and proposed budget. B. Acquisitions (Formerly “Gifts”) Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates. Subcommittee member introduced the Italian Heritage Center efforts to draft language for the plaque attached to sculpture. The subcommittee will continue to provide updates to the Committee, which may include progress of the artwork design and plaque language by the donor. C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke, Gibbs) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates. D. Collection Management (Formerly “Site Selection”) Subcommittee (Dennehy, Gibbs, Berke, Zagaria) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates. 5. Project Reports A. Conservation Projects – No priority projects B. Maintenance Projects 1. Rustle Diptych II – Staff from Parks, Cemetery Division and Public Works Traffic Division assisted with the installation of new conduit and power to facilitate the new inground light fixtures by electrical contractor Casco Bay Electric on September 26th. C. Harbor Common new acquisition subcommittee – (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque & Zagaria) 1. Progress on Request for Proposal (RFP) with City Staff for a potential new acquisition located within the future park, known as “Portland Harbor Commons” on the Eastern Waterfront. More information on the Parks Department project here - https://portland.civilspace.io/en/projects/portland-harbor-common. Committee members introduced the artwork RFP, discussion centered on language included in the design brief, parameters, and budget. Specific recommendation by the Committee were to replace “up to” $150,000 with “at the discretion of the public art committee”, include a $1,000 stipend for finalist as an artist fee to present their final artwork proposals. The Committee directed the RFP to include a maintenance plan to allow an assessment of total maintenance costs. The Committee recommended that next steps would be to incorporate changes and review final RFP at the November 19, 2025 meeting. 6. Public Comment No members of the public present 7. Other Business 8. Meeting adjourns at 5:15pm Page 4 FY26 - Public Art Fund (July 2025-June 2026) TOTAL PPAC Balance A Total Balance (includes FY26) $ 408,661.05 B Total Encumberances $ 202,172.00 C Remaining Balance $ 206,489.05 Remaining Encumbrances from approved budget plans Activity Description Budget A Congress Square Public Art New Commission - Sarah Sze artist $ 176,000.00 B Bramhall Square Artwork New Commission - Chris Miller artist $ 26,172.00 Total Encumbered $ 202,172.00 F26 - Proposed Budget Breakdown Activity Description Proposed FY26 Budget Current Budget Balance To cover the five-year Collection conservation assessment, lighting assessment and complete A Conservation and Maintenance conservation projects identified as highest priority $ 10,000 $ 10,000.00 To cover repairs, theft, relocation, Community Art B Contingency Fund grant, plaque purchase, etc. $ 5,000 $ 1,440.00 C Community Artwork grants To contribute to a community artwork project(s) $ 5,000 $ 5,000.00 C New Artwork New public artwork acqusitions $ 30,000 $ 30,000.00 Total FY26 Budget $ 50,000 $ 46,440.00 FY26 Expenses Funding Source Total (PAID) Project Notes CBE Contigency $ 3,560.00 Lights and conduit installation at Rustle Dyptich Subtotal Expenses $ 3,560.00 Page 5  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehey, Vice Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair pro tempore Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King Urban Designer, Planning Division PUBLIC ART DESIGN BRIEF Portland Harbor Common Public Art Commission 2025 Introduction The Portland Public Art Committee (PPAC) announces an open call for artists to submit qualifications for a new public artwork commission for the newly designed Portland Harbor Common Park in Portland, Maine. Organization Overview The Portland Public Art Committee preserves, restores, and enhances the City’s public art collection. The Committee’s objective is to promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the City and its citizens through art. Eleven Portland residents and/or Portland-based professionals comprise the voting members of the Committee. Eight members are appointed by Portland’s City Council to serve a period of three years and are selected based on experience related to public art, including but not limited to experience as architects, landscape architects, professional curators, professional artists, and/or educators. The remaining three members of the PPAC include one City Councilor, a member of Creative Portland, and a member recommended by the City Manager. The PPAC has a goal to include public art when possible to enhance City of Portland infrastructure projects. Design Brief The PPAC seeks to commission a work of art that honors, reflects, and celebrates the city’s distinctive sense of place. For millennia, the place we now call Portland has relied on its ties to the sea for sustenance, commerce, and our sense of belonging. Water surrounds the peninsula where our community is situated and is an integral part of our identity; it tethers our present community to our neighbors of the past and future. A sense of place is more than topography; we welcome submissions that draw on themes of the interaction of water, land, and people, and seek work that considers this intersection’s past, present, and future. Page 6  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehey, Vice Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair pro tempore Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King Urban Designer, Planning Division Portland Harbor Common Park: Background and Vision Portland’s City Council adopted the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan on November 2, 2015 with a vision to cultivate the future of the India Street Neighborhood. This neighborhood plan outlined development principles to enhance neighborhood identity, diversity, local economy, growth, connectivity, climate resilience, and public open space and amenities. Among the recommendations in this neighborhood plan is the enhancement of the India Street corridor and termination at the Eastern Waterfront. In 2021, the City held several public forums to gather community feedback on introducing Phase 1 of Portland Harbor Common, a new public green space. Following a public engagement process, the City prepared a request for proposals for design consultants. Sebago Technics was awarded the park design contract in 2023 to reimagine the conversion of a surface parking lot into a publicly accessible park space, featuring accessible pathways, landscape areas, a multi-purpose lawn, and pedestrian access to the water’s edge. Upon completion of the construction documents and state and local permitting, the project was bid for construction and awarded in 2025, with a projected start date in Fall 2025. The Park is a transitional space between Portland’s harbor and the Old Port neighborhood, and is within a short walking distance of shopping and restaurants. Thames Street begins at the terminus of Commercial Street, a street of significant activity on the waterfront that accommodates tourists, waterfront workers, hospitality staff, and residents alike. The Park will be located next to the Ocean Gateway parking lot, which accommodates passengers boarding and disembarking from Casco Bay Lines, serving visitors, residents, and workers in Portland’s island communities. As a focal point feature, a public art installation is planned at the Park’s Western entrance, at the terminus of India Street. The site area for public artwork is circular and bordered with cobblestone edging. Design Parameters Public artwork in Portland Harbor Common Park shall: ● Be designed with consideration of 360-degree viewing ● Be consistent in scale and materials with Portland Harbor Commons design concept and site conditions ● Be durable with a life span of at least 20 years ● Be easily maintained ● Be placed at the aforementioned rotunda location The committee encourages proposals that embrace experimentation, boldness, and inventive approaches to form, material, and meaning. Fountains or any other type of water feature will not be considered. Page 7  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehey, Vice Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair pro tempore Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King Urban Designer, Planning Division Base Assumptions ● Artwork shall be installed during the construction of the park, which is tentatively scheduled for substantial completion by November 2026. Coordination of any structural foundation is recommended to occur at the beginning of the artwork fabrication phase, in July 2026. ● Keeping in mind tenets of safe public space design: ○ Artwork should provide for public interaction and should not include potential hazards ○ Artwork should not interfere with the sidewalk or park circulation or function ● Artist(s) may be required to coordinate with the landscape architect, general contractor, or other consultants for the final design ● Depending on the design, the artist(s) may be required to seek review or approval from a structural engineer or other certification of structural stability/safety ● Artwork will be evaluated by the City conservator, and the artist(s) will be required to provide a maintenance plan upon delivery of the final artwork. ● Work with stakeholders, including City departments, neighborhood and arts organizations, residents, property owners, or businesses as appropriate, to exhibit public artwork conceptual design. ● Artwork will be original in concept and imagery, executed by the artist. Artificial tools if used must be disclosed, with rationale. Location Artwork must be sited at the designated location detailed in the attachments. Public artwork should not: ● Occupy or impede sidewalk circulation on the perimeter of the rotunda ● Prevent use of or circulation through the park as shown on approved design plans ● Disrupt stormwater treatment function of landscape plan – coordination may be required to modify materials to account for the placement of artwork Public artwork shall: ● Have radius of ~5–10 ft ● Be designed for viewing in the round, also surrounded by landscaping ● Be constructed with utilities (existing underground electrical, storm drain, sanitary lines) specifications in mind, details to be provided to the artist by the City Page 8  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehey, Vice Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair pro tempore Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King Urban Designer, Planning Division Scope of Work The art commission scope includes design/artist fee, fabrication, transportation, installation or installation oversight, and any lighting specific to the artwork. The allocated budget for this project is up to $150,000, with the potential for additional funds at the discretion of the Public Art Committee. Selection Process Artists will be evaluated by an ad hoc selection committee composed of Public Art Committee members, neighborhood representatives, and the park landscape architect. Round 1 – Open Call for artists ● Interested artists will submit qualifications as listed below in the Submittal Requirements ● Artists will be evaluated based on the Artist Selection Criteria; Finalists will be selected to continue to Round 2 Round 2 – Finalist Proposals ● Finalists will be notified and invited to develop a concept with a proposed budget for the Portland Harbor Park artwork ($1,000 stipend provided) ● Finalists will present their concept and answer questions with the selection committee ● Final proposal will include a presentation with visual aids and address specific questions from the committee Timeline December 2025 – Open call for artist qualifications February 11, 2026 – Deadline for artist submissions March 2026 – Review of submissions, notification of finalists March – April 2026 – Finalists develop concept proposals May 20, 2026 – Finalists present proposals to the selection committee June 2026 – Final artist selected July - October 2026 - Artwork fabrication phase November 2026 - Artwork installation Artist Selection Criteria The Portland Public Art Committee is dedicated to collaborating with the local arts community to develop an inclusive public art program. We hope to serve, celebrate, and represent the diverse and ever- changing population of Portland by extending opportunities to those of all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; gender identities; sexual orientations; ages; and abilities. We encourage all to apply. Page 9  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehey, Vice Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair pro tempore Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King Urban Designer, Planning Division Transparency Statement The PPAC is committed to a transparent and inclusive selection process. Whether or not your submission is chosen for the next phase, we will keep all applicants informed of project developments via the contact information provided. We are not able to provide individual feedback to submissions. Artists will be evaluated on: ● Experience in creating permanent outdoor works of art ● Project feasibility ● Portfolio of relevant work that aligns with the vision for Portland Harbor Common Park ● Proximity to Maine, with a preference for Maine artists, artists with community ties to Maine, or a demonstrated connection to Maine Submittal Requirements To be considered, please submit the following: 1. Letter of interest (750 words maximum) that: ○ Conveys an understanding of the project goals and parameters ○ Conveys an understanding of the context and the community into which the artwork will be sited ○ Answers the questions i. How does your experience and practice relate to the proposed artwork? ii. In what ways does your practice reflect or reimagine Portland’s deep ties to the land and the sea? iii. What is your connection to Maine (residency, cultural, professional, or personal) and how does it inform your perspective on public art in Portland? 2. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (2 pages maximum) 3. Examples of past work (5–10 images labeled with title, location, date, medium) Submit materials via email in PDF format to publicart@portlandmaine.gov by 11:59 PM Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Resources ● Portland Public Art Program: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/560/Public-Art-Committee Page 10  Anna Berke, Chair Sharon Dennehey, Vice Chair Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair pro tempore Phoebe Cole Alison Gibbs Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King Urban Designer, Planning Division ● Portland Harbor Commons Park: https://portland.civilspace.io/en/projects/portland-harbor-common Attachments ● Portland Harbor Common Park design drawings ● Portland Harbor Common Park Plan with area for artwork outlined ● India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18  India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Portland, Maine ___ Adopted by City Council, November 2, 2015 Portland Starts Here . . . Vision for India Street (at Middle Street) Image Credit: Richardson & Associates, Saco, ME Page 19  Portland, Maine 2 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Order 77-15/16 Postponed to 10/19/2015: 7-0 (Costa recused, Mavodones absent) on 10/5/2015 Postponed to 11/2/2015: 8-0 (Costa recused) on 10/19/2015 Passage: 8-0 (Costa recused) on 11/2/2015 Effective 11/12/2015 MICHAEL F. BRENNAN (MAYOR) DAVID H. BRENERMAN (5) KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JILL C. DUSON (A/L) DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) JON HINCK (A/L) EDWARD J. SUSLOVIC (3) IN THE CITY COUNCIL NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES, JR (A/L) JUSTIN COSTA (4) ORDER ADOPTING INDIA STREET SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND AMENDING THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ORDERED, that the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan, attached hereto as Attachment A, is hereby adopted; and BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the City's Comprehensive Plan is hereby amended to include the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan. Page 20  Portland, Maine 3 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Acknowledgments The India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan has been a widely collaborative effort over the course of two years. This report was shaped and informed by many participants who deserve recognition for their efforts, including the India Street Neighborhood Association, Sustain Southern Maine, the India Street Neighborhood Advisory Committee and associated Working Groups, and of course, the community businesses, residents, workers, organizations, institutions, and developers. Especially critical to the formulation of this neighborhood plan is Hugh Nazor, president of the India Street Neighborhood Association. Without his ceaseless efforts to bring attention to the neighborhood, this Plan would not exist. In 2013, Portland became a participating city in the Urban Sustainability Accelerator (USA) technical assistance grant through Portland State University, Oregon, which is funded through the Summit Foundation, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Institute for Sustainable Solution at Portland State University, and the participating cities. Special thanks to Robert Liberty for his enthusiastic support and valuable resources provided through the course of this program. Especially valuable was the consulting work of Michele Reeves, Civilis Consulting, Portland, Oregon. The India Street Neighborhood Advisory Committee convened in the fall of 2013 to guide the neighborhood plan development. City Councilor Kevin Donoghue and neighborhood resident and emeritus professor at the Muskie School of Public Service Richard Barringer graciously offered their time as co‐chairs to this Council‐appointed committee. Nineteen members were appointed to this group with wide‐ranging expertise and areas of insight; without their time and efforts this plan would not have reached its successful conclusion. Many active and enthusiastic members of the community volunteered to participate in Working Groups in order to brainstorm, strategize, and craft recommendations for the final plan. Many thanks again to all of these members of the India Street and greater Portland community who gave of their time and expertise to craft this plan. Additional resources and support were provided by key neighborhood organizations. One central to this process was the Portland Society for Architecture which hosted meetings, provided professional advice and collaboration, and financial resources that were especially crucial in the City’s participation in the USA technical assistance grant and the subsequent consulting services of Michele Reeves. The Maine Jewish Museum generously provided for the use of their facilities throughout the course of the planning process. Professor Yuseung Kim of USM’s Muskie School of Public Service and the students in his Planning Workshops made significant contributions to our work with the creation of a 3d model of the neighborhood and the study, Portland Starts Here: India Street Neighborhood Recommendations, available at http://www.portlandmaine.gov/1114/India‐Street It must be noted that many dedicated City staff members orchestrated and ushered along this complex process. Recognition is due to Planning Division Director Alex Jaegerman, Senior Planner Bill Needelman (who has since become the Waterfront Coordinator), Urban Designer Caitlin Cameron, and Historic Preservation Program Manager Deb Andrews who led the effort. Additional support was provided by Mary Davis, Housing and Community Development Division Director, Nelle Hanig, Business Programs Manager, Bruce Hyman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator, and Doug Roncarati, Stormwater Program Coordinator. Page 21  Portland, Maine 4 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan India Street Neighborhood City Council Advisory Committee Michael Brennan, Mayor Kevin Donoghue, District 1 Richard Barringer, Co‐Chair David Marshall, District 2 Councilor Kevin Donoghue, Co‐Chair Edward Suslovic, District 3 Hilary Bassett Justin Costa, District 4 Beth Boepple David Brenerman, District 5 Carol De Tine Jill Duson, At Large Tom Federle Jon Hinck, At Large Bethany Field Nicholas Mavodones, At Large Arthur Fink Ani Helmick Bobbi Keppel Alan Kuniholm Planning Board Ethan Boxer Macomber Joe Malone Stuart O’Brien, Chair Brandon Mazer Elizabeth Boepple, Vice Chair Linda Murnik David Eaton Hugh Nazor Sean Dundon Arlin Smith Bill Hall Timothy Wilson Carol Morrissette Kara Wooldrik Jack Soley Historic Preservation Board Scott Benson, Chair Bruce Wood, Vice Chair Penny Pollard John Turk Ted Oldham Julia Sheridan Glen Harmon Page 22  Portland, Maine 5 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Working Groups Land Development/ Form‐based code Economy Staff: Caitlin Cameron, Alex Jaegerman Staff: Nelle Hanig, Alex Jaegerman Consultants: Stephanie Carver, GPCOG, and Consultant: Michele Reeves, Civilis Consulting Ken Studtmann, Richardson & Associates Richard Barringer Elizabeth Boepple Rachelle Curran Carol De Tine Susie Kendeigh Tom Federle Brandon Mazer Arthur Fink Hugh Nazor Alan Kuniholm Arlin Smith Brandon Mazer Tim Wilson Hugh Nazor Jay Waterman City of Portland, Maine Historic Preservation Department of Planning and Urban Development Staff: Deb Andrews Jeff Levine, Department Head Consultant: Julie Larry, Turk Tracey & Larry Alex Jaegerman, Planning Division Director Architects Caitlin Cameron, Urban Designer Hilary Bassett Deb Andrews, Historic Preservation Manager Pamela Cummings Mary Davis, Housing and Community Development Ed Gardner Division Director Ani Helmick Bruce Hyman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Joe Malone Coordinator Linda Murnik Department of Economic Development Infrastructure/ Landscape Planning Nelle Hanig, Business Programs Manager Staff: Caitlin Cameron Jennifer Claster Department of Public Works Bobbi Keppel Doug Roncarati, Stormwater Program Coordinator Kara Wooldrik Sustain Southern Maine Equity/ Housing Staff: Mary Davis, Alex Jaegerman Rebeccah Schaffner, Program Manager, GPCOG Councilor Kevin Donoghue Carol Morris, President, Morris Communications Jill Danaher Evan Richert, Town Planner, Richert Planning Bethany Field Todd Richardson, Landscape Architect, Richardson & David Loranger Associates Ethan Boxer Macomber Page 23  Portland, Maine 6 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Table of Contents and Executive Summary The India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 7. India Street Neighborhood Boundary Map Page 8. Background – The Planning Process Page 13. History – India Street Neighborhood Page 19. Five Goals, Six Vision Statements G1. Vitality G2. Good Quality Design G3. Strong Neighborhood Identity that Builds on its Heritage G4. Diversity G5. Enhanced Mixed‐Use Nature of Neighborhood VS1: Sustainable Growth and Development VS2: A Neighborhood of Diverse Peoples VS3: An Authentic Neighborhood True to its Heritage VS4: A Fun, Industrious, Creative, Artisanal, and Prosperous Neighborhood VS5: A Healthy, Connected, and Active Neighborhood VS6: A Neighborhood of Strong Identity Page 23. Thirteen Development Principles 1. Strong Neighborhood Identity 2. Diversity of Residents 3. Neighborhood Heritage and Historic Preservation 4. Mixed‐Use Neighborhood 5. Vibrant Local Economy 6. Retail Corridors 7. Guided Growth 8. Form of Development 9. Compassionate and Supportive Community 10. Connected Neighborhood 11. Quality Infrastructure 12. Ample Recreation and Open Space 13. Responsive to Climate Change Page 36. Implementation Plan Page 24  Portland, Maine 7 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 25  Portland, Maine 8 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Background – The Planning Process The India Street neighborhood is situated on the burgeoning Portland peninsula, a beautiful waterside location nestled between the Old Port and Munjoy Hill. As explained below, this area was the nucleus of the birth of Portland as a colonial city, and the City has grown up around India Street. In the years following 2010, this area began to experience development as the recession gradually gave way to resurgent growth. Many large projects were proposed pre‐recession that did not come to fruition, and several sizable projects – two hotels, a parking garage, and housing , to name a few – were constructed that began to change the face of this neighborhood. Heavily influenced by downtown and the waterfront, India Street emerged as a magnet for new development, and the community responded with a request for focused planning to guide the future of the area, lest the market forces bring about change that many observers and residents feared would be of a scale and character that does not reflect the community’s aspirations. Community leaders approached the City with this concern, that planning has focused all around this neighborhood, along the waterfront, and in the downtown, but not on this neighborhood as a distinct place, to explore its character and establish a vision for its growth and development. An effort to address the specific issue of building heights along India Street was considered by the Planning Board in June of 2012, and led to the recognition that a comprehensive planning initiative was the more appropriate approach to take. The Planning Office was charged with leading this effort, in partnership with the India Street Neighborhood Association. This planning process has proceeded in two phases. The first phase began in earnest in January, 2013, with the selection of the India Street neighborhood as a Center of Opportunity within the Sustain Southern Maine (SSM) regional planning program, a consortium of Cumberland and York County communities that came together with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to create a sustainable growth plan for the region. India Street was selected as a pilot community that represents opportunities for regional growth to occur in established urban centers as a strategy to combat sprawl and revitalize our city centers. With a small planning grant from SSM through the Greater Portland Council of Governments, we engaged with the India Street community to create a vision for the India Street neighborhood. Highlights of this effort included a Public Open House at the Jewish Heritage Museum in March, 2013, followed by a day‐long workshop of three stakeholder small groups in April, 2013, to convert the ideas from the Open House in to neighborhood planning concepts. This input was then synthesized by the planning and consulting team into a series of reports and nine graphic products presenting an emergent neighborhood vision, form, transportation, street systems, landscape, and open space. These were presented in two public forums in June, and later in September, 2013. Page 26  Portland, Maine 9 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Emerging Vision: Sustain Southern Maine Conceptual Plan ‐ June, 2013 Page 27  Portland, Maine 10 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan The fall of 2013 marked the transition from the visioning work aided by SSM, to the planning production phase marked by the collaboration with another technical assistance resource called the Urban Sustainability Accelerator (USA), a new program created to help mid‐sized and smaller urban areas implement sustainability projects, to move their proposals from a concept to reality. This program was made possible through support of Portland State University’s Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, the Institute for Sustainable Solutions, and a grant from the Summit Foundation. The timing of this technical resource coincided with our ongoing efforts to create a plan for India Street. In November, 2013 we established a stakeholder advisory committee, the India Street Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ISNAC) appointed by the City Council, along with other interested citizens to assist the Planning Office to complete the plan. ISNAC established five work groups to flesh out the plan: Housing & Equity; Land Development & Form‐Based Code; Economic Development; Historic Preservation; and Infrastructure & Landscape. These Work Groups met continuously from January through July of 2014 to investigate issues and develop policy and implementation recommendations within their assigned areas. The majority of the substance of this plan is credited to the hard work of these citizen teams with their staff support. Each Work Group reported to the ISNAC on a monthly basis on their findings and recommendations. The technical assistance through the USA program was ongoing during this period and helped inform the Work Groups in their areas of interest. Highlights include the three‐day consulting visit from Michele Reeves, of Civilis Consultants, on February 11 – 13, 2014. Ms. Reeves generated a strong recognition of the stage of India Street’s development, and the attributes that lend unique value to the economy of the neighborhood as well as its intrinsic character. True to form, on the night of her final presentation we experienced blizzard‐like conditions, so many who could not be there in person viewed the video online. Other highlights included a week‐long visitation from a University of California, Davis team headed by Professor Stephen Wheeler and three Landscape Architecture graduate students, who studied the neighborhood and issued a report in December, 2013, Recommendations for a Sustainable Neighborhood Plan that focused on environmental sustainability measures for India Street. Also during this intensive working period, we had the benefit of our own University of Southern Maine through Professors Yuseung Kim and Richard Barringer, whose Planning Workshop class produced a May, 2014 report, Portland Starts Here, which addresses place branding, economic development, and streetscape recommendations. In summary, this process relied on our own in‐house planning expertise, and the hard work of many very dedicated neighborhood stakeholders who volunteered countless hours to the task. We had some outside consulting and technical resources, where available and as needed, to round out and inform the effort. We are very pleased to convey this plan, which is a tangible product with realistic objectives grounded in an engaged community process. Page 28  Portland, Maine 11 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Finally, several concurrent planning efforts will have direct but still undetermined impacts on the India Street neighborhood and this Plan. Public Planning Processes:  The Franklin Street Redesign Phase II is underway, the objective of which is to narrow the roadway, redesign intersections, and employ Complete Streets policies making the street safe and useable for all modes. The street will ideally take on a more active and urban character but the final results of this process remain to be determined. Considering the feedback received throughout the India Street planning process the neighborhood is most affected by the topics of connectivity and the reposition of the right‐of‐way. The Transportation Plan of the Comprehensive Plan states, “The City should promote the interconnection of neighborhood streets and pathways, so that there are multiple paths of travel to get to destinations within and between neighborhoods by foot and bicycle, as well as auto.” In keeping with the policy for an interconnected street network, the neighborhood would benefit from restoring connections to and in some cases across Franklin Street. At the very least, improved bicycle/pedestrian connections across Franklin Street are necessary and desired; reconnecting vehicular access to Franklin Street from one or both streets (Newbury and Federal) is desired if it can be done safely. If it is determined that no vehicular connection is to be provided at Federal or Newbury streets, remaining public space would be well‐suited as a public open space. It is not likely that the neighborhood would be satisfied to have no additional connections to Franklin Street. ISNAC assumes the premise that the neighborhood (and city) would benefit most from increasing the development opportunities within the neighborhood. The neighborhood would also benefit from active, urban uses along Franklin Street. Priority locations for development opportunities include the blocks between Middle and Congress Streets.  Lincoln Park is undergoing a master plan process with future restoration and improvements proposed. The park is a potential open space asset to the India Street neighborhood. Currently, there is a lack of connectivity between the neighborhood and the park and an absence of liveliness and activity. ISNAC supports solutions that balance expansion of Lincoln Park with opportunities for development along the India Street neighborhood edge at Franklin Street. The ISNAC advocates for improved connections between the neighborhood and park, especially pedestrian and bicycle. Private Development Projects:  The Portland Company complex is undergoing a master plan process with proposed significant redevelopment and adaptive reuse of the historic property. Details about the uses and forms are undetermined at the adoption of this plan. As a large neighboring property, what happens on that site will impact the India Street neighborhood, potentially increasing the resident population, office and amenities, and foot and vehicular traffic past and through India Street.  Munjoy South Townhouses is a low‐income housing development adjacent to the India Street neighborhood to the East. Developed post‐war as part of a city redevelopment strategy, this complex may be redeveloped in the future. It is not known whether future development on this site will remain affordable housing and what form and density it will take. This development is one of the larger affordable housing developments near the India Street neighborhood; its size, proximity, and affordability impact the development of the neighborhood in terms of growth, services, and transportation needs. Page 29  Portland, Maine 12 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Why a Sustainable Neighborhood Plan? We have proposed this plan as a sustainable neighborhood plan. To understand this approach, it is necessary to review the sustainability principles of Community, Economy, and Environment. Since the City Council adopted the Sustainable Portland Plan in 2009, as part of our comprehensive plan, we have endeavored to use the sustainability model in planning and policy making. Sustainable Portland offered the final challenge to future policy makers: “To become a sustainable community, the City of Portland must commit to a continuous process of self-assessment and adaptation. When faced with decisions, our City government, residents, institutions, and businesses should ask a series of questions:  Is this decision good for the environment, the economy, and the community?  Is this good for the long-term? If the answers are “yes,” then the decision will move us toward becoming a more sustainable city.” Sustainable Portland – Incorporating Sustainability into Everyday Decision Making City of Portland, 2009, Portland Comprehensive Plan Sustainability principles are imbedded throughout this planning process and plan. We have incorporated the work by Sustain Southern Maine, which looks to urban neighborhood growth as vital to a sustainable region. We have had the technical assistance from the Urban Sustainability Accelerator, which, as the name suggests, seeks to promote sustainable practices in small cities across America. We have looked deep into the neighborhood itself, to examine what is needed to sustain a vibrant, healthy, prosperous future. We could call this a neighborhood development plan, or a neighborhood master plan, or comprehensive plan. The title could change, but the imperative to plan affirmatively for a healthy community, economy, and environment is paramount as we face the challenges and changes to come. This plan touches upon these three factors and presents a balanced set of recommendations that address each of them appropriately for this stage of development in this India Street neighborhood. As a City Council‐adopted neighborhood plan, the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan becomes an adopted element of the city‐wide Comprehensive Plan. A Comprehensive Plan is a long‐range plan that provides a policy framework to guide municipal decisions. Portland has conducted numerous long‐ range planning activities that have produced a variety of components of the Comprehensive Plan, which include functional elements, such as the Transportation Plan, and strategic or geographic area plans, of which this plan is an example. Page 30  Portland, Maine 13 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan History – The India Street Neighborhood India Street Neighborhood in 1871 India Street has the distinction of being the first street in Portland and the center of the city’s earliest settlement. Although little remains from this early chapter in the area’s history, the story of what followed is compelling and unlike any other neighborhood in the city. The India Street and waterfront area was the main commercial district of Portland prior to the Great Fire of 1866, when the core of the downtown moved to the Old Port. As early as the 1820’s, the India Street Neighborhood was home to a large community of African Americans. Later, it became the point of entry and first home to many of the city’s newly‐arriving immigrant groups, including Irish, Italian, Jewish, and Scandinavian populations. The neighborhood was the hub of intermodal transportation where shipping and ferries, trains, and land transportation converged around the waterfront generating a center of activity. Newcomers found stability working as laborers on the city’s waterfront, Grand Trunk Railroad, and nearby Portland Company. As they became established, each group made its mark on the area, building impressive churches and synagogues and launching a wide range of small businesses and institutions. Public health facilities, including a milk dispensary and medical school, were built on India Street to address the needs of the residents. North School, the largest elementary school in the state when it was built, responded to the transitional nature of the North School (1867) Page 31  Portland, Maine 14 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan neighborhood by offering occupational training and other innovative programs designed specifically to help the immigrant and first generation children it served. The historic buildings that remain today tell the story of who lived here and how this neighborhood evolved and functioned. Landmark structures such as North School, the India Street Firehouse, and numerous churches and synagogues are very important to the story. So, too, are the modest wood frame houses owned by the founders of the Abyssinian Meeting House, the triple‐deckers that housed immigrant families, and the small commercial structures that were built to serve the needs of a self‐contained neighborhood. Just as the neighborhood’s remaining historic structures provide tangible evidence of its history, they also establish the strong and appealing visual character of the area. Abyssinian Meeting House (1828) Since the mid‐20th century, the neighborhood has lost a number of key landmarks, including the Grand Trunk Station and the house where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born, at the corner of Fore and Hancock streets. Once‐dominant population groups have moved on to other parts of the city, leaving the neighborhood with just a few hundred households. Insensitive alterations to historic structures and the clearing of older buildings for surface parking lots and discordant new construction have diminished the character of the neighborhood. The most dramatic change, of course, was the construction of the Franklin Arterial, which entailed the removal of many homes and commercial structures at the western end of the neighborhood, and severed what had been a seamless transition to the downtown core. The removal of homes and construction of Munjoy South public housing on Mountfort Street created another abrupt boundary to the neighborhood where there previously had been none. Franklin Arterial (1967) changes the neighborhood, creates disconnected conditions Page 32  Portland, Maine 15 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Notwithstanding these losses, the neighborhood retains numerous elements of its past that warrant recognition and preservation. This historic building fabric could also inform the scale and character of new development, which would result in a lively mix of new and old within a distinctive, human scale, mixed‐use neighborhood. An older, downtown adjacent neighborhood such as India Street has assets that significantly outweigh its challenges. In addition to the cultural significance of the historic neighborhood, today’s market values historic architectural fabric that provides a human‐scale foundation for future development. Significant parcels, including those formerly in industrial use, are vacant or underused and inviting for redevelopment. As an existing urban neighborhood, it enjoys A mix of different building types on Congress St a relatively complete infrastructure that is ripe to support revitalization. The historic street grid is walkable and contributes both to quality of life and to market value for the land uses served by it. Multi‐modal transportation services, both existing and potential, create choices for those who want to live or work in or to visit the neighborhood. This mixed‐use neighborhood with proximity to downtown already has a core mix of residential and commercial uses, including long‐standing uses that are well recognized and loved, and may serve as springboards to additional development. The most important characteristic of all, however, is the prevalence and importance of people; the neighborhood is the product of the people who have been here, past and present, and this plays a key role in shaping the future of the India Street neighborhood. Page 33  Portland, Maine 16 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Assets to Build Upon Challenges to Face  Cultural Heritage – Portland starts here!  A Lack of Clear Identity – The neighborhood  Historic – Landmark buildings and a historic lacks a clear identity and has never before building fabric been the subject of a neighborhood plan  Adjacent – Waterfront, Residential  The Constraints of Past Land Uses – Industrial neighborhoods, Downtown, Ferry and Cruise uses, many now defunct, were common in terminals neighborhoods like this, with brownfield and  Shop Local – Destination and landmark stores; clean‐up costs associated with them Small, independent business and  Scale of Development – Large development entrepreneurial culture; Truly mixed‐use sites have resulted in recent redevelopment  Food Destination – Many restaurants that that does not comport well with the desires of draw people from all over the city and region neighborhood residents and businesses,  Accessible – Walkable, bus connections, ample historic buildings, and neighborhood character parking, good biking streets, ferry terminal in height or scale  Geographic Advantage – The neighborhood  Disconnected – The neighborhood edges have slopes to the waterfront, providing views been seriously altered and/or sealed off  Development Possibilities – Many development opportunities of varying scale Page 34  Portland, Maine 17 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 35  Portland, Maine 18 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Assets in the India Street neighborhood and surrounds Page 36  Portland, Maine 19 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Goals and Vision Statements The India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan is framed by five Goals and six Vision Statements . . . Page 37  Portland, Maine 20 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Vision: Cultivating the Future of the India Street Neighborhood Vision Statement 1: Sustainable Growth immediate proximity to housing, jobs, and Development ‐ The India Street commerce, and services. Over the course of neighborhood is on the cusp of substantial more than two years, this neighborhood has growth and development that will firmly pulled together property owners, residents, and establish its place in the city and region for associated stakeholders and community decades to come. It is poised for growth, and members who care deeply about how this has chosen to shape that growth to its singular neighborhood will evolve and develop. This character and heritage. It is fitting that this plan is the result of their efforts and hard work. neighborhood welcomes a share of the growth It presents the vision, principles, and strategies that is happening in greater Portland, given its to welcome the right form and shape of growth adjacency to downtown and the waterfront, its and development that will bring this walkability, its access to transit, its in‐place transitioning neighborhood to maturity. infrastructure, and its strong mix of and Page 38  Portland, Maine 21 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Vision Statement 3: An Authentic Neighborhood True to its Heritage – Portland’s first street was India Street, and it is a point of pride and identity that this neighborhood set the stage for Portland’s growth and development. Vestiges of this history abound, from the religious institutions to the civic and industrial buildings, to the vernacular working class houses on Federal and Newbury and Hampshire streets. These Vision Statement 2: A Neighborhood of features distinguish the neighborhood from Diverse Peoples – India Street is and always others, adding to the mix of peninsula has been diverse, and we wish it to remain so. neighborhoods with a unique community fabric. Histories of immigrant communities – landing This heritage creates a sense of responsibility to here and gaining a foothold, and making their protect the traces of the past as well as positing way in America – have left a durable imprint a form and pattern for future growth that is that we celebrate. Maintaining diversity means recognizable as India Street. We invite conscious efforts to welcome all kinds of new development into our neighborhood, as it is arrivals: whether they be move‐up urbanists essential to its vitality and to fill its voids, who can live anywhere and choose India Street particularly in the southern section below for its location; or new arrivals continuing the Middle Street where there is much vacant land traditional role of this neighborhood, and surface parking. And we will insist that new welcoming new immigrants who above all need development add to the indigenous structure of affordable housing and convenient access to this neighborhood by demonstrating an jobs and services; young singles and small incremental and varied street, lot, and block households who are embarking on adult life and pattern. The scale of development may grow value the social landscape and access to all that but the form must reflect the attributes that Portland has to offer; working families striving typify and reinforce the fabric of this to live responsibly by choosing a compact urban neighborhood. neighborhood where one can afford to live and maintain a low carbon footprint; or an aging population wishing for an active life and access to Portland’s amenities, activities, restaurants, and services. Any and all of these are welcome to make India Street home, and become part of our community. Page 39  Portland, Maine 22 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Vision Statement 4: A Fun, Industrious, sidewalks and passageways, good lighting and Creative, Artisanal, and Prosperous streetscape furnishings, public art, and intuitive Neighborhood – The sidewalks are full of life wayfinding strategies – we will embrace these and commerce. Within a five minute walk assets and enlist them more fully into the life of multiple food products are prepared, sold, the neighborhood. Street connectivity remains consumed, and savored. Local businesses are a fundamental challenge especially in mostly home grown and provide authenticity to connecting to and across Franklin Street for all the neighborhood ‐ the regional brew house, modes, with a pedestrian and bicycle priority. the bakers, the textile and furniture designers, Pedestrian connections throughout the the grocers, the coffee houses, and restaurants. neighborhood need improvements that will Amato’s, one of Maine’s few chain enable visitors and residents alike to feel establishments, was founded here on India comfortable navigating the area and accessing Street around 1902. We will build on this surrounding amenities. cluster of commercial activity on the core retail streets and create a continuous “trail of crumbs” for visitors and residents to follow from the Old Port and the waterfront, from Commercial Street to Congress Street. We expect that in this area all of the buildings and businesses will engage with the community both visually and functionally, that there will be a “conversation with the street,” and people will enjoy being here and engaging in this Vision Statement 6: A Neighborhood of dialogue. Strong Identity – We have learned a lot about Vision Statement 5: A Healthy, ourselves and our place within the larger Connected, and Active Neighborhood – community during this planning exploration of The India Street Neighborhood provides the India Street Neighborhood. Our heritage, opportunities for health and well‐being ranging our diversity, our industriousness, our unique from health‐related services to recreation physical character, and our location on amenities. Within a short walk are many Portland’s marvelous peninsula all constitute recreation and open space assets: historic the unique and authentic identity, charm, and Lincoln Park; the Eastern Promenade Trail that spirit of this community. These qualities and caters to children, runners, bikers, strollers, characteristics contribute to our pride of place, bladers, boarders, and those just out for a sense of belonging, and conception of an scenic stroll; and a playground tucked into edge exceptional community. Portland Starts Here. of Munjoy Hill off Mountfort Street. These We celebrate this and all it implies. We will gems are now somewhat hidden from view and share this heritage and identity with the larger access; but with some thoughtful interventions community, for us to enjoy, and for others to – including generous and well‐designed appreciate. Page 40  Portland, Maine 23 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Thirteen Development Principles 1. Strong Neighborhood Identity Portland starts here in the India Street neighborhood; the spirit of this place will be reflected in its identity and character, distinct from Old Port and the Downtown. The story of India Street is long and compelling; now is the time to tell and celebrate it. The India Street Neighborhood presents a human‐scale, downtown‐adjacent neighborhood with commerce, light industry, authenticity, and community. What visitors and others are less aware of is its distinctive history – Portland’s first street and first neighborhood, early maritime connections, later industrial development, period architecture, religious and cultural diversity. The key principle here is to bring these unique characteristics and assets into closer connection and a cohesive neighborhood identity that will permeate the built environment as well as associated housing and business – all serving to strengthen and enhance the community. 2. Diversity of Residents People are at the very heart of all that India Street Neighborhood is about. It is characterized by diversity, past and present, in all meanings of the word – race, ethnicity, age, religion, ability, household size, and socio/economic status. For the future, the India Street neighborhood will continue to be a place known for its authentic diversity; and diversity of residents and activities will be encouraged and maintained. Two major factors contribute to neighborhood diversity: housing choice and affordability. The recent housing development trend in the neighborhood has been toward large condominium units, often catering to empty‐nester couples and part‐year residents. Left to themselves, market forces Page 41  Portland, Maine 24 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan alone will provide more of this housing type, while a balance of housing types is desired. The City is especially interested in development that will provide homes for families with children, and young, single workforce households. This should include rental units and a mix of efficiencies, one, two, and three‐bedroom units. As the neighborhood residential base grows, so too will the type of housing remain varied. Affordability will likewise be considered in development and policy decisions. 3. Neighborhood Heritage and Historic Preservation Unlike many other neighborhoods on the peninsula, the India Street neighborhood grew to become a strikingly diverse and self‐contained neighborhood, with its own “main street,” houses of worship, institutional buildings, and workshop industries that provided employment for minority groups that populated the area. While the neighborhood has lost significant elements of its past, much remains to tell its compelling story. The historic buildings that remain not only tell the story about how this neighborhood has evolved and functioned, but also contribute significantly to its unique character, scale, and patterns. Protecting and enhancing India Street’s historic building stock is essential if the area is to retain its authenticity and build a strong sense of place. Alterations to existing buildings, both historic and non‐historic, will be carefully considered so the neighborhood’s character will not diminish over time. Infill construction will be a clear product of its own time, and respect established development patterns that characterize the neighborhood. Opportunities to tell the neighborhood’s story, through interpretive signage or other means, will be fully explored and implemented. Understanding the history of the neighborhood will foster pride among local residents and businesses, and will enhance the visitor’s experience. 4. Mixed‐Use Neighborhood The India Street neighborhood is today truly a mixed‐use neighborhood with residences, businesses, offices, hotels, retail, and restaurants. The neighborhood plan should allow the mixed‐ use nature of this neighborhood to continue and expand, with the goal of providing a fair and high quality of life for all manner of people. Page 42  Portland, Maine 25 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Fostering a desirable and diverse neighborhood requires a certain level of services and neighborhood amenities. Important and interesting destinations, from places that supply necessities to those that supply entertainment, are within walking and bicycling distances. Real estate developments, policies, and economic development plans that maintain or grow the level of service and amenities for the neighborhood will be encouraged. 5. Vibrant Local Economy Businesses are important to the success of a mixed‐use neighborhood, and the vitality of the India Street Neighborhood economy impacts the city as a whole. The economic goals for the neighborhood are to grow employment opportunities and enhance economic vitality and sustainability. The India Street neighborhood draws people who recognize and enjoy its unique character and heritage. Those who visit or live in the neighborhood appreciate its authenticity, local artisan retail and eating establishments, and diverse cultural history. Building on these strengths through communication of identity, concentration of commercial uses, protection of the historic and human‐scaled built fabric, and stronger relationships within the neighborhood will attract greater numbers of visitors, residents, and businesses to the area and move the neighborhood towards its economic goals. 6. Retail Corridors The India Street Neighborhood is home to destination food and retail businesses, among Portland’s most popular. The beginnings of a retail corridor exist on India Street, the neighborhood’s main street, as well as on Congress and Commercial streets, and commercial uses are dispersed across the neighborhood. The neighborhood’s vitality will be heightened with more concentrated commercial activity – particularly restaurants and retail – along India and on Congress, Commercial, and Middle streets. Commercial Street is a popular pedestrian route and entry into Portland for cruise ship and ferry passengers. Enticing people to the India Street Neighborhood will depend, in part, on creating a continuous “chain of crumbs” leading from Commercial up India Street. This will require a phased approach, focusing first on recruiting to India Street new retail shops and restaurants, from Commercial up to Middle streets; and then continuing this effort along India all the way to Congress Street. People attract more people; by concentrating retail to strategic corridors the streets become more active and boost economic vitality. This strategy for the neighborhood retail environment will strengthen existing businesses and attract more visitors, residents, and businesses. Page 43  Portland, Maine 26 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 44  Portland, Maine 27 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan 7. Guided Growth The India Street neighborhood is an ideal place to target sustainable growth due to the availability of development sites and existing urban infrastructure. Sustainable growth is growth that occurs in an already‐established urban neighborhood, taking advantage of existing infrastructure and services. In the case of India Street, the vision is also for residential growth that supports the neighborhood. The district will accommodate a reasonable share of regional growth over the next 25 years, based on its size and proximity to downtown; and gain critical mass that will support a diverse, vibrant, and mixed‐use urban neighborhood. The neighborhood desires a healthy mix of uses. The type of growth will be primarily residential with a substantial increase in housing units; there is already an ample supply of hotels developed. Growth will also come from increased density of smaller units of development rather than increased height. All of this growth will only add to its activity and vitality, promoting it as a vibrant neighborhood center within Portland. There are several areas in which this growth will be located. Due to availability and size of land, significant growth will occur on large redevelopment sites toward the waterfront. As an urban avenue, Franklin Street has valuable frontage along which new development will redefine the neighborhood’s edge and contribute to its identity as a desirable residential/mixed‐use district. Smaller infill developments will be strongly encouraged as a way to expand the capacity for neighborhood growth and test prospective housing unit types. 8. Form of Development Neighborhood growth will carefully consider of form and scale, with an emphasis on “human scale” development and good quality design. Graduation of form will vary by location so that future new development is appropriate to its surrounding context. Within intact historic streets, form is modulated to approximate surrounding building forms. In larger blocks presently dominated by surface parking, new buildings will be scaled proportionately to allow larger buildings with mass and scale designed to achieve a human scale street presence, protection of street view corridors, and varied and permeable block faces. The intended outcome will be a harmonious composition of new and old buildings that fit well together to create a lively fabric of modern and traditional building forms. The Importance of Form – The identity of a downtown adjacent neighborhood is dictated in large part by its scale and pedestrian‐friendly design. Critical elements include1:  Relatively high residential density within a relatively small district, putting many people within walking distance of many activities and, for trips outside of the district, regular and reliable bus service with bus stops; 1 These are drawn from the India Street Neighborhood workshop discussion, the City’s design manual, and reference materials such as Ewing and Bartholomew, Pedestrian‐ and Transit‐Oriented Design (2013). Page 45  Portland, Maine 28 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan  A fine‐grained mix of uses – both horizontal and vertical – that invite a flow of people at different times of the day, seven days a week;  A street pattern with pedestrian‐scaled blocks. Longer blocks and larger buildings will be interrupted and made permeable by mid‐block pedestrian ways, alleys, or streets;  Continuous sidewalks designed with universal access and widths scaled to the pedestrian activity of the street, to allow two couples walking in opposite directions to comfortably pass each other;  Strong street walls with development placed close to the property line at street frontage  Street‐oriented buildings, with commercial and mixed use buildings with “permeable” facades – front entrances and fenestration that relate to the street;  Human‐scale buildings – neither so tall as to block a pedestrian’s cone of vision at four stories, nor so horizontally large or dominated by a single use as to discourage the casual interaction between pedestrians and a mix of uses along the street. 9. Compassionate and Supportive Community The India Street neighborhood continues a history of welcoming. A walk around the neighborhood reveals a plethora of services and resources ranging from immigrant and elderly services at Catholic Charities, resources for the homeless population at the Cathedral complex and Milestone, low‐ income housing for the elderly at North School, education opportunities at the Portland Adult Education building, and abundant medical and mental health practices. The compassionate and supportive nature of this neighborhood will be encouraged to prosper; it will continue to be a hospitable landing place for those seeking opportunity in Portland whether it be a new immigrant resident or a fledgling economic enterprise. Efforts to make it accessible with connectivity, transit, and streetscape improvements will go a long way to foster this kind of community. 10. Connected Neighborhood A downtown‐adjacent neighborhood that is disconnected from its downtown is an undervalued and underutilized asset. The adjacent nature of this neighborhood is both unique and full of potential. India Street abuts many wondrous assets and resources – residential neighborhoods, the downtown district, and the waterfront. Connections to these nearby assets and amenities are fundamental to its economic vitality and greater quality of life. Services and opportunities – from jobs to entertainment to governmental services – will be improved by strengthening the connectedness of the neighborhood. From the point of view of the India Street neighborhood, the redesign of Franklin Street is driven in large part by the desire to re‐connect this neighborhood and the Downtown. The Transportation Plan of the Comprehensive Plan states, “The City should promote the interconnection of neighborhood streets and pathways, so that there are multiple paths of travel to get to destinations within and between neighborhoods by foot and bicycle, as well as auto.” Reconnecting dead‐end streets and formalizing well‐loved but informal connection points will help to knit the India Street neighborhood into the city. Page 46  Portland, Maine 29 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan The India Street neighborhood already has the fundamental characteristics of a walkable, bikeable neighborhood and the additional advantage of being a transportation hub. The combination of neighborhood adjacency and increased density reinforce the use of alternative transportation modes, reducing dependency on automobiles and allows for the relaxing of parking requirements. Improvements to the local street system, trail system, and transportation system will give priority to connectivity on multiple scales ‐ connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods, connectivity to neighboring assets such as Lincoln Park and the waterfront, and connectivity within the neighborhood, itself. Emphasis will be on pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes. The walkability of the neighborhood, proximity to jobs on the Portland peninsula, and the availability of bus service will reduce auto dependency. Increased density will support public transportation with shorter time intervals, which, in turn encourages use and viability of the transit system. Visual connections, especially to the waterfront, are another important type of connection. Wherever possible, access to the waterfront – visual and physical – will be provided as a public amenity. New development will be conscientious of its relationship to the water; view corridors through public rights of way to the water will not be obstructed. Visibility to and from the neighborhood, across Franklin Street and from the water and Commercial Street, will contribute to the identity and presence of the neighborhood, serving to attract visitors as well as elevate the relationship of the neighborhood with the rest of the city. Page 47  Portland, Maine 30 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 48  Portland, Maine 31 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan 11. Quality Infrastructure The streetscape and landscape play an important role in supporting the neighborhood identity and affording a comfortable, inviting, and human‐scaled environment. For infrastructure, emphasis will be placed on the experience one has travelling to and throughout the neighborhood, with Complete Streets as the adopted City strategy. The street grid and transportation infrastructure will be improved with priority given to pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes. Strategies to improve the streetscape will include increased street trees and plantings, lighting, public restrooms, green infrastructure implementation, wider sidewalks and improved universal access in public right of ways, street furniture deployment, and a neighborhood‐wide analysis to evaluate the potential to underground utilities. Neighborhood identity will be reinforced through streetscape design elements with particular priority on India Street which will include street trees, public art, unique and cohesive street furniture, pavement options that have a storytelling or identity component, and gateway elements signaling entrances to the neighborhood. Vehicle parking, especially surface parking lots, will be de‐emphasized. On‐street parking, reduced off‐street parking requirements, modest off‐street lots, structured parking, and car‐sharing services will all be needed to satisfy demand. In the India Street neighborhood, the recent structured parking with excess space (as of 2013) was created to relieve some of the constraint that might otherwise exist and to facilitate development of surrounding parcels. Use of shared parking and utility infrastructure strategies will be encouraged. Finally, improvements to telecommunication infrastructure is crucial to making the India Street neighborhood and the city an attractive place to locate for residents and businesses who increasingly rely on internet access for quality of life and work. Page 49  Portland, Maine 32 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan 12. Ample Recreation and Open Space Open space is a most precious commodity in the small, urban India Street neighborhood. Open space amenities greatly enhance quality of life for residents and workers, make for a more attractive built environment, and create opportunities for community gathering and interaction. Every opportunity to improve or enhance public open spaces will be pursued. This principle addresses a guiding principle of the existing open space and recreation plan for the City of Portland, Green Spaces, Blue Edges: Neighborhoods form the foundation of Green Spaces, Blue Edges. The plan exists to serve the health and enjoyment of the neighborhood residents.  Neighborhoods should have open space focal points  Recreational opportunities should be available for all ages and genders  Neighborhood open space should be within walking distance  Portland residents appreciate their park system The neighborhood has three avenues to maximize the potential for open spaces of different types and uses: 1) Create new open spaces at the pumping station property, along Franklin Street, and at the foot of India Street, 2) Improve and maintain existing spaces (including private green spaces) within the neighborhood by implementing the Eastern Cemetery Master Plan, for example, and 3) Connect to surrounding open space amenities such as Lincoln Park, playgrounds in Peppermint Park and Adams Street, and the Eastern Promenade Trail. Page 50  Portland, Maine 33 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 51  Portland, Maine 34 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Page 52  Portland, Maine 35 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan 13. Responsive to Climate Change As a waterfront‐adjacent district, climate change is especially compelling to the India Street neighborhood. Adapting to sea‐level rise, reducing stormwater runoff, and mitigating heat island effect are especially important to address, as the neighborhood continues to develop and improve. Future plans for this district will consider such features as low‐impact design in public and private development, reduction in impervious surfaces and subsequent opportunity to increase greenery and street trees, flexible ground floor designs, and treatment of roof surfaces to reduce heat island effect and solar reflectance. Incremental changes, including modifying structures and facilities on the water’s edge to be more resilient to sea‐level rise, will be pursued by both public and private interests. The future India Street neighborhood will be a model to demonstrate that planning for climate change is a benefit to residents’, visitors’, and workers’ quality of life and the quality of the built environment. Page 53  Portland, Maine 36 India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan Implementation Plan In order to implement the policies laid out in the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan, twelve Critical Actions have been drafted to form an Implementation Plan. Critical Actions are inter‐related and high priority initiatives, representing the top one or two strategies from each India Street Neighborhood Advisory Committee Working Group. These twelve Critical Actions are intended to guide the City in measures that can be taken to fulfill the Plan principles and meet the "SMART" test articulated by the City Council as part of its 2014 goal‐setting process: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Tangible It is important to note that the Implementation Plan is meant to guide the City but will not be included in the Comprehensive Plan as policy. These initiatives, taken individually and collectively, will help the City to achieve the policies and objectives of this Plan, but each action will require individual review, consideration, and decision‐making in light of the resources available and competing objectives of the City at the time. It is not expected that each item will proceed exactly as prescribed, but that these programs and initiatives, among others that might arise, will be considered in the implementation of this Plan. The creation of these Critical Actions ensures the policy document – the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan – is translated into clear action and will have a beneficial, tangible impact. Page 54