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Christopher Thompson, 37
President
Parallax Partners, Inc.
What now is an unsightly amalgam of warehouses slowly deteriorating on an arm of land jutting into the mouth of the Fore River will, in the not-to-distant future, be transformed into a $105 million mixed-use real estate development, due in large part to the efforts of Chris Thompson.
The Forty Under 40 Award winner is one of three partners leading the project known as The Forefront at ThompsonâÂÂs Point, considered the gateway to Portland.
Chris, 37, is president of Parallax Partners, which also is developing a downtown riverfront hotel in Lewiston and a large, mixed-use project in Portsmouth, N.H. Chris is enthusiastic about the project and Portland, which he describes as the most dynamic and interesting city that heâÂÂs ever lived in. âÂÂAs many languages are spoken at Reiche School as there are in any given neighborhood in London.
IâÂÂm not sure I have a vision for Portland as much as I have a hope that I can have sufficient vision to grasp the ways in which Portland is transforming into a global city before our eyes, and to do work that is adequate to this transformation.âÂÂ
Chris is keen on developing projects that âÂÂwill truly enhance peopleâÂÂs lives and livelihoods for years to come,â says Stephen Griswold, who nominated Chris for the award. âÂÂHis willingness to practice and establish new and important environmentally friendly and sustainable efforts, such as LEED technology, provides a clear path for the future of Maine and New Hampshire real estate development.âÂÂ
On ChrisâÂÂs horizon is building the tallest building in Maine â âÂÂMaine should have an iconic, highperforming tall building that rivals those in other New England cities.â But what he would really love to accomplish would be to build an aquarium in Portland.
What inspires him? âÂÂThe future judgment of my children motivates me. I want them to be able to be proud of who I was and what I did.âÂÂ
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