The Portland Museum of Art has announced the acquisition of four significant properties on Free Street, marking a major milestone in its ambitious $100 million campus expansion project. The museum purchased buildings at 110, 120, 128, and 130 Free Street on Friday, which currently house a MaineHealth administrative building and several private parking lots. This strategic acquisition means the PMA now owns nearly an entire city block located between Spring and Free streets.
While the museum is still evaluating specific uses for each of the newly acquired properties, officials have outlined preliminary plans for the spaces. The building at 110 Free Street is expected to eventually serve as administrative offices, which will free up valuable space within the museum's current facilities. "This is a critical return-to-form for the museum," explained Marcie Parker Griswold, the PMA's head of communications and audience engagement, in an email response. "Many of our current offices were originally meant for gallery space, but have more recently been used for administrative purposes as the museum has grown."
One of the most significant benefits of this acquisition will be the creation of 140 new public parking spaces, addressing a long-standing concern for visitors to the downtown area. "We'll be able to open up the adjacent parking lot to the public, which is a huge benefit to both museumgoers and the entire downtown and Arts District area," Parker Griswold noted. This development is expected to significantly improve accessibility for visitors to the museum and surrounding cultural attractions.
The property purchase is being funded entirely by the museum's board of directors, though both the PMA and MaineHealth have declined to disclose the exact sale price until the transaction becomes official in March. This acquisition represents a crucial component of the PMA's comprehensive Blueprint project, a long-term strategic plan designed to unify the museum's campus. To date, the institution has successfully raised $65 million toward the $100 million goal for this transformative initiative.
The Blueprint project also encompasses the ongoing construction of a new wing at the site of the former Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine, located at 142 Free Street. The museum demolished that historic building in September following an extended legal battle that played out in both city meetings and courtrooms. However, the PMA has not yet submitted construction plans for the new wing for municipal approval, and it remains unclear whether this recent property acquisition will influence the design plans.
"Expanding the PMA campus is a truly transformative opportunity, bringing together the Arts District, Free Street and the Old Port in a way that feels seamless and inviting," said Mark Bessire, the museum's executive director, in a press release. "These properties are the foundation for a future where art and community thrive together." This vision reflects the museum's broader goal of creating a more integrated cultural hub in Portland's downtown core.
Meanwhile, MaineHealth will continue operating its administrative functions in the building for at least the next two years, providing a transition period for both organizations. Andy Mueller, chief executive of MaineHealth, explained the healthcare system's perspective on the sale in a press release. "We have seen a real shift in how people work in the post-pandemic era, and we need to organize our administrative teams around that new reality," Mueller stated. "This is part of a broader responsibility we have to use our resources wisely so that we can deliver high-quality care to our communities in the most cost-effective way possible, which is critical to achieving our MaineHealth vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America."
During MaineHealth's continued occupancy of the administrative building, the Portland Museum of Art will begin developing comprehensive renovation plans and establishing a phased activation strategy for the properties, according to Parker Griswold. This careful planning approach will ensure a smooth transition while maximizing the potential of these valuable downtown properties for the museum's long-term growth and community impact.
