Portland Hall renovation set to begin
A multimillion dollar conversion of the former Portland Hall dormitory into apartments should begin by Monday, developers said, with a six-week demolition campaign to remove three decayed rear structures.
Developer Greg Shinberg, who owns the building at 645 Congress Street with state Sen. Justin Alfond, said they expect the planned 56 apartments and 11,000-square-feet of retail space will be ready by fall. The apartments, which range from small studios to large one-bedrooms, will cost between $500 and $1,100 per month. The rear wings, once demolished, will give way to 75 parking spaces.
"It's a great location and a nice building," Shinberg said, adding that the building is in a "favorable" part of town and is close to bus lines and other urban amenities.
The two front buildings, which appear as one long front facade, were built in the 1890s and have served as a rooming house, several hotels -- including a Best Western -- and finally the Portland Hall Dormitory for University of Southern Maine residents. Development firm Bayside Maine, LLC bought the building in 2008 after it sat vacant for several years.
The planning board approved the renovation project on Tuesday.
"Approval was a quick process. It was a great collaborative process with staff and the city planning board and certainly with neighbors," Shinberg said.
The total project cost is "in excess of $1.5 million" from start to finish. Structurally, Shinberg said the main buildings are in good shape but the rear buildings would have been too costly to save.
Down the road, developers envision new retail or housing space going in toward the back of the property, which extends back to Deering Street.
