Portland May Shut Down These Six Streets to Help the Economy

Earlier this week, Rockland officials gave the green light to begin the process of closing part of Main Street to open an open-air market to help local businesses and encourage social distancing.

Now Portland is considering something similar. City officials met this week and the proposed plan is to shut down the following six streets to allow business owners to bring their businesses to the streets:

Cotton Street

Exchange Street from Middle to Federal Street as well as from Fore Street to Middle Street

Milk Street from Exchange Street to Market Street as well as from Silver Street to Pearl Street

Dana Street from Fore Street to Commercial Street

Wharf Street from Moulton Street to Union Street

Middle Street from Franklin Street to India Street

You can see the aerial map here.

The proposal from City Manager Jon P. Jennings which can be viewed in full here, notes that the city of Portland's goal is to offer a temporary solution to reopen and expand local business operations "safely and responsibly".

Jennings' memo notes that expanding outdoor capacity is "not intended to create public gathering or social space," rather assist businesses in reopening in the most responsible way possible.

Local businesses will need proper permitting to bring business outside, but the Permitting and Inspections Department will be working closely with businesses to get these permits issued quickly.

What do you think of this plan? Would you be more likely to visit these businesses if they were set up like an open-air market? Or do you think this will be too problematic for traffic and parking? Let us know your thoughts and message us through our app!