Wharf owner to push for waterfront hotel
The owner of the wharf next to the Maine State Pier is proposing to build a four-story hotel, office and retail complex on his waterfront property, and is prepared to sue the city if officials do not allow him to proceed.
Eric Cianchette said he intends to meet with City Manager Joe Gray on Friday to present his plan for Maine Wharf, located just to the west of the Maine State Pier. Cianchette also owns the Portland Regency Hotel and other properties in the Old Port.
Waterfront zoning does not currently allow hotels on piers and wharves, but the city actively pursued the Maine State Pier redevelopment project submitted by The Olympia Companies, which called for a pier-top hotel and a variety of other non-marine uses. Given city officials’ apparent willingness to allow such uses on public property, Cianchette believes private pier owners like himself should be allowed to do the same.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
Gray, who has not seen Cianchette’s plans yet, declined comment.
Over the unanimous objection of the Portland Planning Board, the City Council loosened strict waterfront zoning rules for the Maine State Pier in September 2006. The goal was to make it easier for a private company to redevelop the pier and, in return, pay to repair the city-owned facility.
Private pier owners cried foul, saying they also face costly repairs but do not have the leeway the city gave itself to attract non-marine development to help cover the cost.
“We can’t do anything right now,” Cianchette said. “We can cut mackerel heads off, that’s about it — and there’s not much mackerel left.”
“The city gives itself whatever it needs,” he continued. “They make their own rules and they’re just trying to keep the rest of us out of business. We haven’t got the brightest bunch up there running the show.”
Back in September 2006, the only developer with a plan to redevelop the Maine State Pier was Ocean Properties, which had pitched its project to city officials in a series of private meetings earlier that year. Its initial plan envisioned a hotel on the pier, but it later amended that plan to place the hotel on city-owned land at the base of the pier. The zoning change was crafted to allow hotels on that parcel.
Maine Wharf is currently home to several marine-related businesses, including Three Sons Lobster and Fish and Morrison’s Maine Course. Cianchette said the businesses would remain on the first floor of the complex. Office and retail space would occupy the second floor, topped by a two-story hotel. Some parking would be provided on the wharf itself, which would be extended to add as much as 700 feet of new berthing area.
Cianchette is prepared to sue the city if it rejects his proposal. “If they let me do it, I’ll spend money on architects and engineers,” he said. “If they don’t let me do it, I’ll spend money on lawyers.”
— Chris Busby
In a League of his own
Campaign finance documents submitted to the city indicate the shadowy group behind an attack ad that targeted then-Mayor Ed Suslovic last November is not a group at all, but rather one disgruntled real estate and mortgage broker from Cape Elizabeth: Tony Armstrong.
Armstrong formed a political action committee, called the League of Responsible Voters, that paid for a newspaper insert slamming Suslovic shortly before Election Day. The PAC’s finance report indicates the “league” is solely comprised of Armstrong, who registered it and contributed all the funds necessary to print and distribute the handbill — just under $1,500.
Armstrong has not responded to requests for comment.
Suslovic lost the election to Dory Waxman, who claimed ignorance of Armstrong’s effort. She accepted a $100 campaign contribution from Armstrong last summer.
At the time, Suslovic and other councilors told The Bollard they believed Ocean Properties (OP) was behind the attack. Armstrong has reportedly worked on real estate deals in Portland for the New Hampshire-based company. Suslovic had supported the Maine State Pier project submitted by rival developer The Olympia Companies.
The PAC’s campaign literature contained numerous inaccuracies, and Suslovic is still bitter about it. Armstrong “printed lies that are now well documented as lies,” he said in a recent interview. “I just feel he has no credibility.”
Asked if he still thinks OP is somehow behind the PAC’s effort, Suslovic said, “I think you have to ask yourself, ‘Why was a wealthy mortgage broker who lives in Cape Elizabeth so motivated to fund this smear campaign?’ You don’t have to look too far to see the connection with Ocean Properties.”
— C.B.
