mrld.net blog

MaineBiz sees the work of MRLD in Standish as an exemplary process in the revitalization of Maine communities looking ahead to the year 2024…..

standish-mainebiz-2024.pdf

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MRLD prepared a 90-acre master plan for the mixed-use redevelopment of an industrial site in the Portland / Westbrook Gateway Zone. MRLD designed all aspects of the Master Plan including buildings, streetscapes, open spaces and transit connections. As part of the master plan, MRLD also analyzed Main Street Gateway for potential job creation and tax benefits to the city. The project balances the needs of pedestrians and vehicles with well-defined street networks and a series of open spaces. Views of signature buildings and the reclaimed quarry lake are established through street alignments and strategically located parks. Parking is incorporated into mixed-use structures, on-street parking and surface lots placed behind buildings. Existing and proposed transit stops are integrated into the development. Proposed buildings address existing perimeter streets, further integrating Main Street Gateway with the site context

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 MRLD in collaboration with Caleb Johnson Architects designed the entrance plaza for a new mixed-use project (housing, restaurant, bar) at the intersection of Congress and Washington Streets in Portland, ME. The plaza is a prominent location at the base of Munjoy Hill, adding to the dynamic and evolving character of the neighborhood.

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Highwood Square designed by Graftworks of New York, Ben Ledbetter of New Haven and MRLD has broken ground. Highwood Square is an 27-unit affordable artist housing community with residential, studio and commercial space devoted to the performing, visual and musical arts. The 2-acre project includes open spaces and performance areas designed by MRLD.

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MRLD developed a site master plan and building program for the Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath, ME. The goal is to preserve and promote the historic church as a premier performance space and architectural gem, while developing an integrated urban campus supporting new and existing programs, establishing the Chocolate Church Arts Center as the premier regional arts facility. The existing site and buildings do not engage the city nor best support the programs provided by the Chocolate Church. The plan calls for new gallery, teaching, theatre, lobby, dance studio, workshop and office space, a restaurant, and a green roof accommodating a range of programs. The roof garden spans the distance between the existing church and a new building defining the intersection. The roof garden works with the topography to create a campus setting above the embedded black box theatre and multi-purpose support areas.

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MRLD in collaboration with Woodard & Curran, Scott Simons Architects and Smart Mobility are developing an infrastructure capacity master plan to support a proposed build-out of the Tillson Waterfront District. The methodolgy for determing the build-out will be based in both what the current zoning and infrastructure can support and what necessary changes to zoning and infrastructure improvements would be required for an ideal build-out.

In determing the appropriate build-out, technical requirements for street and sidewalk systems, including road and sidewalk widths, curbs, and turning radii, transportation, streetscape and landscape features, architectural standards, public squares/pocket parks, view corridors, parking, and utilities infrastructure for water, sewer, storm water, electric, natural gas, phone and internet will be established. The guiding regulations for the build-out will be similar in nature to Smart Code or Form Based Zoning.

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After three years of focused work the Main Street Village Plan language was implemented as part of the Topsham Land Use Ordinance. The Plan reinvents and reinforces the two-long stretch of Main Street as transect zones with appropriate building forms, densities, green infrastructure and land uses. The Plan is unique in how the detailed analysis of existing conditions ranging from demographics, land uses, building forms and spatial patterns informed the goal of creating a safe, walkable and economically diverse Main Street.

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MRLD was retained by the Somerset Woods Trustees to complete a master plan for a mile-long riverwalk beginning at Coburn Park in Skowhegan extending downstream to the Department of Conservation boat launch. The riverwalk will provide safe access along a busy stretch of Route 2 and complement the Run of River project.

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