Regarding your March 9 article, “Sale of property by city rankles some as ‘missed opportunity.’ “ A massive giveaway of public land is more like it. The City Council sold prime waterfront property, valued at $4 million, for $1.15 million to developers who want to build more office space.
Come on! Snow White could have negotiated a better deal. The city is already awash in big-box aluminum and glass offices, not exactly in keeping with hundreds of years of maritime use of magnificent Casco Bay and Portland Harbor. The justification offered by a city official? The developer’s bid was the only one it received. OK – all the more reason to send it back out for rebidding.
How to rationalize accepting a $1.15 million offer for public land worth triple that? Again the city official: The developer will create benefits not included in the price tag. Such as what? $50,000 cash for public restrooms, five free parking spots for the city for four years (then what?) two public access easements, and city ownership of a portion of Freedom Way to connect two streets.
Sounds to me like a pretty good deal for the developer, not so much for Portland taxpayers. The Portland council should reverse its vote and reopen the request for proposals.
Michael Petit
Portland
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