Mainers have long memories. For a half-century, the grief following the destruction of Union Station has not been forgotten.

The Portland Museum of Art gambled that it could convince a majority of city councilors to demolish 142 Free St. – a divisive and self-serving attack on Portland’s history. The councilors that voted for the PMA appeared to have had their minds made up before the public hearing. This was neither equitable nor inclusive to those who spoke. It was not fair to all Portland citizens, as their oath to office directs. The Historic Preservation Board and Planning Board knew the long-standing ordinance and wouldn’t agree to the PMA’s request allowing demolition of this solid, code-complaint building. The majority of city councilors followed their emotions.

The PMA’s second gamble was to select an architectural firm that, according to its website, has never designed a museum or an addition to a museum.

Their third gamble is to assume that people will forgive and forget the needless travesty to destroy 142 Free St. Some of those people are potentially large donors who normally would want their names prominently displayed on a donors’ monument in the museum. Will present and future Mainers consider those names to be recognition of fame or recognition of shame?

Robert Kahn
Portland

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