Other Options

 

Cox Architects of Glastonbury determined that the site's single vehicular entry and exit point prevents development of a traditional mixed-use development with a defined street grid. These site conditions could make existing development plans untenable.

 

A letter from the CT Trust for Historic Preservation attests to the importance of the buildings and notes that most alterations are reversible. Preservation experts from the Trust note that similar buildings, many of which were in much worse condition, have been converted to commercial, office, or multifamily residential for a profit. The Elmcrest buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This listing will qualify their adaptive reuse for federal tax credits making their rehabilitation more financially attractive. 

 

These properties are also listed on the Historic Resources Plan in the Portland Plan of Conservation and Development. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crosskey Architects Options:

 

In order to demonstrate that commercial development can happen on the Elmcrest Campus site in conjunction with the adaptive reuse of the historic buildings, the Portland Historical Society led an effort to demonstrate this feasibility. The two plans that follow illustrate this effort.