Congress Square

Published
June 7, 2014

Letter to the editor: Don’t be misled by Forward Portland. Vote ‘yes’ to protect city’s parks.

The mailer I received from Forward Portland on the upcoming parks initiative is so misleading as to shock the conscience. The city should be ashamed of itself. For example, the bold claim “Portland Parks Are Already Protected” is a flat-out lie. Former Mayor Anne Pringle’s Maine Voices column (“With park’s perpetual protection insecure, Portland voters […]
Published
June 7, 2014

Letter to the editor: A ‘yes’ on 1 moves city closer to greatness

I am a Portland resident, and I operate The VIA Agency on Congress Street. Against much of the business community, I am supporting Question 1 for some very simple reasons. Publicly owned land is vital to a healthy city: All great cities are defined by their publicly owned spaces. Central Park, Golden Gate Park, the […]
Published
June 7, 2014

Letter to the editor: A ‘no’ vote is a first step toward a more vibrant public realm

The Portland Society for Architecture is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization that believes that thoughtful design of our built environment is an integral component of Portland’s vibrancy. That’s why the PSA feels it’s time to recast the Congress Square conversation from one of failure and blame to one of possibility and engagement. The decision facing Portland […]
Published
June 7, 2014

Letter to the editor: Put trust in elected leaders and vote ‘no’ on 1.

I would like to urge my fellow Portland residents to vote “no” on 1. Our city’s leaders were elected by all of us, and in turn, we trust that they’ll do what’s right for the city. The Friends of Congress Square Park emerged because the city was allowing the sale of a small piece of […]
Published
June 6, 2014

Our View: Parks referendum wrong way to make tough choices

Portland's Question 1 creates division when the city really needs dialogue on development.

Published
June 6, 2014

Letter to the editor: ‘Yes’ vote on park question sign of faith in city’s future

I’ve lived and worked near Congress Square Park since its inception in 1982. As a teenage MeCA student, living in the Eastland, I survived the building’s fire. I also witnessed a positive transformation by tandem virtue of the park and the Portland Museum of Art. The public space became the fulcrum point for our nascent […]
Published
June 5, 2014

Letter to the editor: A ‘yes’ on parks avoids unforeseen consequences

Question 1 is an effective, forward-thinking action to protect public land, through which the fate of Congress Square is tied. When it comes to development, consider this: “For every solution, there are unforeseen consequences.” It is an important design tool to explore these what-if scenarios. Are we sure that Portland needs more privately programmed space? […]
Published
June 5, 2014

Letter to the editor: Vote ‘no’ to give Congress Square best chance to succeed

On June 10, Portland voters are being presented with an ill-conceived referendum that appears to be about protecting public parks, but in reality seeks to overturn the City Council’s decision to sell part of Congress Square Plaza for an event center. Portland’s Downtown District has supported this sale from the start. Yet we are advocates […]
Published
June 5, 2014

Letter to the editor: A ‘yes’ on park plan could lead to a better solution

My office is on the fourth floor of the State Theatre building on the High Street side. I overlook Congress Square. In two short months, the park has been transformed. It is clean. It feels safe. People come to the park to eat lunch at the Small Axe food truck. They sit or lounge on […]
Published
June 5, 2014

Letter to the editor: History will affirm a ‘no’ vote on park plan

In her May 29 Maine Voices column (“With park’s perpetual protection insecure, Portland voters should have final word”), former Mayor Anne Pringle wrote in support of the upcoming referendum that would make it more difficult for our elected leaders to sell or subdivide public space. Ms. Pringle cites two examples of the loss of public […]