Prepared by David Kurtz, Candidate for City Council, Ward 5
Multimodal Bridge Proposal
- A pedestrian bridge is being considered to connect Upper Falls Road (formerly Gooch Street) to Factory Island in Saco.
- Design completion expected by the end of 2025, with a Council vote to follow.
- If approved and funded, construction could begin in 2027.
- Benefits: easier access to the Transportation Center, stronger downtown connections, and safer pedestrian routes.
- Funding remains uncertain; alternative fundraising options may be explored if federal support does not come through.
Pearl Street Developments
Two housing projects are planned on either side of the Pearl Street Parking Garage:
- Fathom Development (East Side / former MERC site)
- Details available on Fathom’s project page.
- Westbrook Development Corporation (West Side / Lincoln Street)
- Planned: ~90 units of affordable housing for residents 55+, with rents between $1,100–$1,300 (including utilities).
- Requires state-level funding through a competitive scoring process.
- The Council voted to maximize the project’s chances of success, despite attempts to delay.
Riverwalk Extension
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Proposed extension from Laconia Plaza to Pearl Street Park.
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Awaiting project updates.
MERC Smokestack
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Recent discussions questioned whether the smokestack should be removed.
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Key considerations:
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The city has already invested in park designs around the tower.
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Demolition would be costly (approx. $1M) and disruptive.
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The tower generates $130,000 annually in cell tower revenue.
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It is home to nesting endangered birds.
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Current outlook: the smokestack is expected to remain as part of the city’s landscape.
Notes on Transparency
There has been discussion about creating a single, regularly updated city webpage to track all ongoing projects. This would improve public access to information and reduce confusion.