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V O L . X X I I N O. X V I I J U LY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6 26 R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / D E S I G N F O C U S e city also approved amend- ments to its business zones to allow more building fl exibility and greater density along certain transit corridors, Grimando says. A couple of recent mixed-use commercial and apartment projects are at West End Place at the corner of Pine and Brackett streets, and 89 Anderson St. in East Bayside. e former is a 39-unit market-rate housing project with fi rst-fl oor retail spaces and inside parking. e lat- ter, by Portland developer Redfern Properties, is a 53-unit market-rate apartment complex, with fi rst-fl oor retail and restaurant space. Public response overall has been positive, says Grimando. e city heard concerns when amendments were drafted over the course of the extensive community engagement that preceded the changes. But "people also off ered constructive feedback," she says. " ere was a lot of support." Tiny postage stamps " e lots are all tiny," says Kaplan ompson principal Jesse ompson. "But the really interesting story is that we always used to do this in our cities. If you walk around Portland, all the older buildings are tight together on tiny lots. All the buildings that everyone loves are on these tiny postage stamps." ompson says his fi rm has done a number of infi lls around Portland. Projects include a three-unit town- house rental in the West End and the four-story, 45-unit aff ordable housing project, Bayside Anchor, under con- struction on 20,000 square feet at 81 East Oxford St. in Bayside. Urban renewal is to blame for zoning regulations that restricted construction to larger lots. "It seems like people thought the city was too cramped," ompson says. "And when buildings were taken down, the land was turned into parking lots. Parking is incredibly profi table, and building buildings is risky and expensive." It's all part of the new urbanism movement, says Daniel Diffi n, a prin- cipal at Sevee & Maher Engineers Inc. "My understanding is the younger generation is more interested in living in a downtown area where you can walk to grocery stores, markets, res- taurants, clubs and bars," says Diffi n. "So there's a lot of pressure from younger generations moving back into the city. At the same time, a lot of older people, who moved out of the city to suburban houses, are downsiz- ing and also want the same walkabil- ity to resources and entertainment." A couple of Portland infi lls currently on Sevee & Maher's docket involve vacant lots or old buildings that are losing value due to dilapidation. "Our client wants to tear the old buildings down and build higher-value housing," says Diffi n. " ere's also a lot of pressure on vacant spaces to be developed as modernized housing, either for rent or purchase." Sevee & Maher has been involved in infi lls elsewhere, including a senior apartment building for Avesta Housing in Gorham. Another in Yarmouth is planned on an already built-out senior apartment space. At the Portland fi rm Archetype Architects, David Lloyd designed a num- ber of infi lls that are under construction. ey include a four-family condominium on 3,000 square feet on Saint Lawrence Street and an eight-unit condo on the corner of Fore and India streets. Lloyd's own house, at 29 Waterville St., is an infi ll of 3,000 square feet. From an architectural standpoint, infi ll buildings are not diffi cult to draw, says Lloyd. "But they're all challenging in the sense that you're fi tting into an existing urban context," he says. " You want to do something that refl ects today's archi- tecture but is also respectful to the sur- rounding fabric of the neighborhood." Portland has plenty of potential for infi ll, says ompson. "A lot of land has been ignored," he says. " ere are a lot of parking lots. So there's lots of room. Every place there's a parking lot, there was once a building." L au r i e S c h r e i b e r , w h o c o v e r s r e a l e s t a t e f o r M a i n e b i z , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t l a u r i e @ p r o f i l e s m a i n e . c o m You spoke. We listened. Simple and affordable checking for Maine businesses. mainesavings.com/bizwallet Bangor | Brewer | Corinth | Ellsworth | Hampden Jax Lab | Milo | North Vassalboro | Old Town » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story The lots are all tiny. But the really interesting story is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If is that we always used to do this in our cities. If you walk around Portland, all the older buildings are tight together on tiny lots. All the buildings that everyone loves are on these tiny postage stamps. — Jesse Thompson, principal, Kaplan Thompson Architects

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