Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/816087
V O L . X X I I I N O. X M AY 1 , 2 0 1 7 12 Americold Logistics LLC has proposed a cold-storage facility (as seen in rendering, top, and in hybrid image, at left) that would work in concert with ship, rail and truck transportation. The site would be on the Fore River, with land-side access from West Commercial Street. THE BIG CHILL G L O B A L E C O N O M Y F O C U S I t's crunch time for cold storage. Portland's debate over a proposed multimillion-dollar refrigerated waterfront warehouse is about to heat up, two and a half years after Americold Logistics LLC won the bid to design and build it. e facil- ity is proposed for 6.3 acres leased from the Maine Port Authority at the International Marine Terminal, next to the rail line and close to I-295. Eimskip USA, the Icelandic firm that brought container shipping back to Portland in 2013, would be the anchor tenant. Supporters see the facility as a way to keep Eimskip here while giv- ing Portland an edge over larger, more crowded ports and supporting food and drinks industries, not just seafood but also agricultural products like blueber- ries and potatoes. "e opportunity is bigger than sim- ply giving Eimskip's customers a place to store their product," says John Henshaw, executive director of the Maine Port Authority. "at's an important com- ponent, but there are opportunities to grow the food and beverage industry in the greater Portland area that will be realized because there's a cold stor- age facility here." As the debate continues, Eimskip is considering its options. "We don't have a plan B," says Larus Isfeld, managing director of Eimskip USA. "It will definitely affect our plans of moving forward, how we do business in the future, if we cannot get our customers into a cold storage facility somewhere in this area." Whether Eimskip really would leave remains to be seen as the cold- storage drama enters the next act. The fight over height e public debate over zoning is set to shift into a higher gear with an Eggs & Issues discussion hosted by the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce on May 10; a Waterfront Alliance open house and panel discussion on May 16; and a public workshop before the Portland Planning Board on May 18. e main bone of contention is whether the city should waive its 45-foot height restriction in the Waterfront Port Development Zone. R E N D E R I N G S / C O U R T E S Y O F T H E M A I N E P O R T A U T H O R I T Y Debate over Portland cold storage facility heats up B y R e n e e C o r d e s