Peter Markoe is president of the Bayside Opportunity Center. Tom Blackburn is president of the Bayside Neighborhood Association.  

A recent article highlighted the approaching termination of the lease for Portland’s family shelter. After over 30 years, the four buildings the shelter currently occupies have become obsolete, and an updated and refreshed space is essential. The location, orientation, and flexibility of 353 Cumberland Ave. and the adjacent parking lot make an ideal fit for this necessary service provided to Portlanders in need.

What’s currently housed at 353 Cumberland are Portland Public Schools’ central offices and the Foundation for Portland Public Schools. Another recent article in the Press Herald elucidated the relatively complex situation that the school district finds itself in regarding the future of its central office.

Up until 15 years ago, PPS had taken a decentralized approach to its administrative function and, presumably, had consolidated to 353 Cumberland for efficiency or convenience. With enrollment down and more space in the schools for administrators to work alongside student, teacher and staff populations, returning to a decentralized approach could open the door for the city to explore other critical uses of the space, such as a family shelter, co-working and workforce development spaces and a community center.

It’s no secret that there are air quality issues on the bottom floor of 353 Cumberland. It’s been referred to lovingly as the school district junk drawer, and who doesn’t love a junk drawer? But when your junk drawer has black mold, it’s time to remediate.

The building trade unions not only deserve a place back in Maine’s largest city to recruit and train new talent, but are equipped to accomplish the necessary tasks of renovating the building for its new multipurpose operations.

For over 25 years, the Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA) and Bayside Opportunity Center (BOC) have sought to establish a community center to match the quality-of-life features that can be found in most other neighborhoods across Portland. The Reiche, East End, Riverton, Stevens Square and Peaks Island community centers are integral third spaces for their residents.

Last year, Bayside’s Immigrant Welcome Center closed, and many of its people lost programs that were vital to their day-to-day lives and navigating American society. Bayside, and its uniquely diverse population, is an asset to Portland’s social and economic fabric and defines Portland’s welcoming spirit, all while lacking a community center.

The ideal location for a Bayside community center is available at 28 Portland St. With 17,000 square feet, the BOC has envisioned a center for opportunity. There is ample room for operations to include workforce development, a communal café for all to meet others with shared interests, a coworking and shared resource space for nonprofits and a large flex space for multiple uses that serve not just Baysiders but the Greater Portland area.

A lot is changing in Portland, especially in Bayside. With the neighborhood ripe for development, gaining over 2,000 units in the next decade, the city has an opportunity to relocate the school administration and establish the family shelter, trade union facilities and community center at 353 Cumberland Ave. to benefit the productive Bayside neighborhood.

The BNA and BOC formally request your support in helping establish 28 Portland St. as a community center for all. For more information or contact details, visit baysideportland.org or baysideoc.org.