Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bayside leaders ask Portland school board to consider vacant 28 Portland Street for community center
Summary
Bayside leaders told the Portland school board they want access to 28 Portland Street as a public community center after the closure of the immigrant welcome center, citing immediate programming needs and offers of volunteer repairs despite a reported mold issue.
Tom Blackburn, president of the Bayside Neighborhood Association and executive director of the Bayside Opportunity Center, asked the Portland Board of Public Education on June 23 to consider using 28 Portland Street as a community center for the neighborhood.
"Most of you probably realize that Bayside is the most ethnically diverse community in the state of Maine with over 60 languages spoken," Blackburn said, describing how the recent closure of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center left new Americans without a safe place for programming such as ESOL and workforce training. He asked the board for a workshop or meeting to present a vision for the space.
Robert Sylvain, also with the Bayside Neighborhood Association, said the difference between the community rooms the neighborhood currently borrows and a public community center is access. "The community rooms at Avesta are not available to the public," Sylvain said, and he urged the board to allow programming to begin at the vacant site, noting some building-trades volunteers have offered help to address a mold issue at the property.
Board chair Lentz closed public comment after confirming there were no other speakers and moved on to the board's regular business.
Why it matters: Bayside residents said immediate community needs — ESOL classes, workforce training and a public gathering space — could be addressed if the district permits use of district-owned vacant property. The request raises questions about the district's role in community space use, building condition and coordination with neighborhood organizations.
Next steps: Speakers requested a facilitated meeting or workshop with the board to outline plans and needs; the board did not vote on the request during the June 23 meeting.
