With potholes throughout Portland, an unsightly light pole on the ground (for years) near the railroad tracks on Congress Street, and no attempts to beautify exteriors of most businesses with urns of spring flowers, it seems unjustified that the beautiful doors at the new restaurant, Papi, were going to have to be removed (“Portland will reevaluate decision to have Papi remove antique doors,” April 24). With their intricate wood carvings, the doors are a work of art. There’s a restaurant on the opposite side of Exchange Street that has a “different” style of door, and take a look at the former Dry Dock’s door, or the door on the former restaurant on the corner of India and Commercial streets (plywood door).

My husband and I were in Newburyport, Mass., last week; that town is clean and inviting. Many window boxes and planters of spring flowers add a beautiful touch to the exterior of businesses there. Most Portland businesses don’t seem to care about beautification. Papi does. Its doors are beautiful and add a lot to the Old Port.

Sally Connolly
South Portland