How to talk about architecture in Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine doesn’t have a very good public discussion of its architecture and city.

By “public discussion” I mean Portland, Maine doesn’t have good blogs or news about its architecture. (No offense to existing bloggers.)

Halifax Bloggers has good and frequent blogs about Halifax, Nova Scotia’s architecture and urban space. Portland, Maine needs that.

Before I first went to Halifax, Nova Scotia Portland, Maine-ers told me Halifax was just like Portland — meaning the cities were the same size and they had the same vibe.

But beyond the seaside port similarity Halifax, Nova Scotia is not at all like Portland, Maine.

Halifax, Nova Scotia is bigger than Portland, Maine. Halifax has at least twice as many commercial/shopping districts than does Portland.

I don’t mean to offend, but Halifax, Nova Scotia has a grittier, nose-to-wheel business/work life than does Portland, Maine.

The assertion Halifax, Nova Scotia is just like Portland, Maine I think was/is made by people who haven’t been to Halifax.

One thing Halifax, Nova Scotia and Portland, Maine share is perhaps architecture, and the sometimes problematic redevelopment of historic downtowns specifically.

I’ve wondered whether Portland, Maine would ever have a building like Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Central Library.

What Portland, Maine really needs is good, regular, critical writing about its architecture and urban spaces, like Halifax Bloggers — maybe less ambitious.

The only times Portland, Maine-ers read about architecture and the city and publicly discuss its urban spaces is when someone proposes building something and someone else objects.

Portland, Maine can do better.