Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Eye of the Beholder

The Press Herald's Ann Kim had a follow-up piece to yesterday's article about the proposed Stroudwater Place. In today's piece, Kim aims to answer the question, Can it work here? Well, I suppose it depends on whom you ask. Here are the public sentiments (read: answers) of the various players:

Developers:
Jason Snyder and Arthur Emil: We think the market is "screaming" for something like this, but we haven't actually, you know, done a detailed market study yet.

Eggheads:
Charles Colgan, an oft-quoted public policy professor at the Muskie School of Public Service: It'll be risky, but phased construction might help. Don't worry, though, the project is still a couple business cycles away.

Maine Real Estate and Development Association: Mainers and their incomes can barely keep up with the retail scene as it is.

Tom Yake, a Kennebunk retail consultant: I don't know.

Government Types:
City Administrator Jerre Bryant: Southern Maine may still be craving upscale stores like Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, but didn't I get out of the mall business?

City Councilor Brendan Rielly (D-Ward 1): The architectural firm has a good history, but isn't Maine more sparse and poor than, say, Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; and Washington, D.C.?

- John C.L. Morgan

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