The former Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, slated for demolition by the Portland Museum of Art, is on Maine Preservation’s latest list of endangered historic places. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Maine Preservation has highlighted the former Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine on its latest list of “Most Endangered Historic Places” in the state, in light of its planned demolition.

In May, the Portland City Council voted to remove a historic classification that protected the building at 142 Free St. from being torn down. The Portland Museum of Art requested the change so it can build a sweeping glass-and-timber expansion on that site. In June, Greater Portland Landmarks sued in Cumberland County Superior Court seeking to reverse the City Council’s decision, and that case is still pending.

The statewide preservation group drew particular attention to the debate Friday when it released the annual list. Maine Preservation said the reclassification “will establish a dangerous precedent that jeopardizes the efficacy and value of Portland’s historic districts.”

Also at the top of the list were the state’s 66 light stations, endangered by increasingly fierce winter storms.

“As we recognize five places that are facing costly repairs, structural failures, and community disagreement, we also want to highlight two emerging concerns that threaten a collection of significant coastal landmarks and the historic fabric of our state’s largest city,” said Tara Kelly, executive director of Maine Preservation. “Throughlines exist across our list, allowing us to tap into our experience, preservation partners, and supporters to effect change.”

Elizabeth Jones, senior deputy director at the Portland Museum of Art, said leaders there “respectfully disagree” with the assessment by Maine Preservation and feel confident that a judge will uphold the City Council’s decision.

“The building itself has gone through countless iterations and reconstructions, which undermine its original eligibility for historic preservation,” she wrote in an email. “In addition to a major renovation in 1926-1927 that was incongruous with the era, the building has gone through significant structural changes leaving only the front façade unchanged and resulting in a lack of integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association to make it worthy of preservation or restoration.

“The majority of the elected representatives of the people of Portland on the City Council agree that it is appropriate to re-designate 142 Free St. as a non-contributing building, and that redevelopment of the property is consistent with the City’s comprehensive plan.”

Greater Portland Landmarks, the local nonprofit that has led the charge against the reclassification, applauded Maine Preservation’s announcement.

“We hope that broader attention to the risk of losing a significant building through a political process will raise awareness of a dangerous precedent that weakens historic preservation protections in Portland and throughout Maine, and we hope it will help facilitate a better solution,” Executive Director Kate Lemos McHale said in a news release.

The organization repeated its call for the museum to develop an alternative design.

“The Portland Museum of Art is a significant and valued cultural resource, and GPL firmly supports its goal to expand and increase access to enriching programs and exhibitions with exciting new architecture,” Lemos McHale said. “However, it is essential to uphold the integrity of Portland’s historic preservation ordinance and to ensure that every property owner in a designated historic district abides by the same rules. We believe both goals can be achieved and have urged the museum to consider alternative designs that can incorporate 142 Free Street in an expanded campus.”

The building at 142 Free St. was previously considered a “contributing” structure to the surrounding Congress Street Historic District, which meant it could not be razed. Built in 1830 and later renovated by architect John Calvin Stevens, it has been home to a theater, a church, the chamber of commerce and the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine.

The Portland Museum of Art bought the neighboring property in 2019 with an eye toward growth, and the children’s museum vacated in 2021 for a new home on Thompson’s Point. Since then, the art museum has used the space mostly for offices. The museum applied to change the classification to “non-contributing,” which would allow for the building’s demolition.

The Historic Preservation Board and the Portland Planning Board both recommended against the change. But the Portland City Council ultimately voted 6-3 to reclassify the building on the basis of “significant alterations since it was originally constructed.” It found that the building lacks integrity of design, materials and workmanship. In the complaint, Greater Portland Landmarks challenged the factual and legal basis for that decision.

Museum officials said in May that demolition is “not imminent” and have not shared an updated timeline for construction. Fundraising is ongoing, and the plans for expansion still need to go through the city’s permitting process. An attorney for Greater Portland Landmarks said in June that the organization will file for an injunction if the museum moves to demolish the building while the case is pending.

Maine Preservation has published the annual list since 1996 as a way to increase awareness. This year’s list included five other sites. They are the Sangerville Town Hall, the Central Congregational Church in Eastport, Starling Hall in Fayette, Eagle Island State Historic Site off the coast of Harpswell, and Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill.