Portland’s Planning Board voted Tuesday night to give historic designation to seven of eight buildings at the former Portland Co. industrial complex at 58 Fore St. Building 1, which hosts a portion of the annual Portland Flower Show, was excluded.

The board’s recommendation will go before the City Council for final approval.

Everyone who spoke during the public comment period Tuesday night was in favor of creating the historic district, but differed on its size and which buildings should be included, WCSH-TV reported.

The board accepted the plan proposed by developer CPB2 that called for a smaller area and the demolition of Building 1 on the condition a pathway is built to give the public access to the complex and the trails along the waterfront. The designation applies to 4.3 acres of the 9.93-acre property.

“We think that it’ll give the opportunity to preserve the historic structures on site, create an amazing opportunity for the redevelopment of a historic building in a site here that could be great for the city of Portland,” Jim Brady, one of the developers, said.

The city’s Historic Preservation Board had recommended that all eight buildings be designated as historic. The board said research suggests that the Portland Co. was the first complex in the United States built specifically for the manufacture of railroad equipment. It is also a rare surviving example of a pre-Civil War foundry.


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