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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U LY 2 4 , 2 0 2 3 bernsteinshur.com Meet Patrick Brady. From solo entrepreneurs to large corporations, Patrick is an experienced business and construction attorney who advises clients on transactional and risk management issues. We're attorneys. But we're people first. Patrick Brady, Attorney From the Editor T he past several years have been fraught with bad news about spiraling construction costs, supply- chain issues, labor shortages, rising interest rates, inflation and a host of other challenges. Yet through it all developers and construction firms have found a way to get things done. In Maine, the pace of construction continues in a large part because the demand is still there. We need housing of all kinds, from apartment buildings to single-family homes to smaller, more sensible structures, such as accessory dwelling units. Commercial construction projects have dialed back from the frantic push of the past few years, but you still see cranes over Portland and you're still seeing big projects move forward. So this issue focuses on where we are right now. For our cover story, Senior Writer Renee Cordes looks at how commercial space has changed post- pandemic. With diminished need for office space, select spots are being converted to short-term hous- ing. Some former WEX space in South Portland is being reused by a printer. Maine Law took over space that had, until the early days of the pandemic, been used by an organization devoted to placing international students. e economy changes, and so does real estate. Renee's story starts on Page 16. Another major conversion is the redevelopment of the former Mercy Hospital into a mixed-use space with apartments, retail, office space and co- working. As Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber writes, a development group is putting the World War II-era building through some major changes. e story starts on Page 22. is issue also features lists of Maine's largest engineering and architecture firms. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews et Maine's top business news daily at mainebiz.biz or by signing up for the Daily Report and the Real Estate Insider. Here is the top content from June 28 to July 12. 1. Maine State Chamber CEO resigns, citing personal reasons 2. With projects underway, Waterville's downtown is taking on new life 3. Sun Life touts $24M Portland home as 'future of work' 4. Evernorth's $54M affordable housing fund will invest in five projects in Maine 5. With industrial space in short supply, newly constructed Class A building unveiled in Saco 6. Maine private colleges stand ground on diversity in wake of Supreme Court ruling 7. Friday Food Insider: Two Maine bagel shops receive recognition from Bon Appetit 8. Bayside Bowl rolls out expansion to South Portland 9. Commercial real estate sales in Maine for June 2023 10. Christmas Tree Shops will close remaining stores, including three in Maine P H O T O / R E N E E C O R D E S 1 With demand for housing and other real estate, developers find a way through challenges. Featured @ Mainebiz.biz Pace of construction may have slowed, but it's still moving at a rapid clip

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