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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 J U N E 1 , 2 0 2 6 company. Lindsay called the build- ing, dating back to 1854, a defining part of Portland's Old Port. "In the Old Port, property owners are, in many ways, modern-day Port- land historians," Lindsay said. "You learn the layers of the city through these walls — how it's changed, who passed through, what endured. e Evalina wasn't created for speed or scale. It was built thoughtfully, over time, because preserving this sense of place matters." Repurposed office building A block away, at 245-253 Commer- cial St., plans are underway to repur- pose an office building into a hotel called the Nathan at Portland Har- bor Hotel. Earlier this year, Port- land commercial real estate developer Bateman Partners LLC bought the 44,316-square-foot, five-story build- ing, dating back to 1860, from Port- land insurer MEMIC. Gregory Boulos and Drew Sig- fridson of the Boulos Co. represented the seller in the transaction. e con- version from office to hotel or resi- dential use is on trend for the down- town area, Boulos said earlier this year. "is deal is a textbook example of converting excess office space into alternative use," Boulos said. Over the past four decades, Bate- man Partners has built commercial and residential projects worth over $210 million in Maine and New Hampshire. at included the devel- opment, more than two decades ago, of the Portland Harbor Hotel at 468 Fore St., across an alley from 245-253 Commercial St. With the purchase of 245-253 Commercial St., the plan is to cre- ate another hotel that will connect to the Portland Harbor Hotel via a skyway. Features of the Nathan to be pre- served include exposed beams and bricks and high ceilings, Nathan Bateman, vice president of Bateman C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PAG E » From Maine. For Maine. Growing Together. Cianbro's legacy in Maine spans more than 75 years. Now, as part of the Cianbro family, A/Z Corporation is building on that foundation—leveraging specialized expertise in technically complex building construction and renovation. Together, we're delivering projects that move Maine forward while creating lasting careers for the people who build them. See our work and explore career opportunities at a-zcorp.com/maine CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING AND INSPECTIONS • Soils, asphalt, concrete, masonry, fireproofing, and steel: Reduce potential delays, defects, and unexpected costs. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING • Soil and groundwater characterization, landfill monitoring, and site assessments GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND EXPLORATIONS • You see what's on top, we'll show you what's below. RWGILLESPIE.COM / INFO@RWG-A.COM BIDDEFORD, ME 207-286-8008 • NH 603-427-0244 • MA 508-623-0101 P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY The Evalina Hotel in the Granite Block building, in Portland. A local owner, a local management team and a shared belief that buildings like this deserve to be cared for because of what they represent, not just what they earn. — Scott Lindsay The Evalina Hotel