The construction of a new bridge linking Portland and South Portland (Maine) has been in the news a great deal recently.
I have frequently wondered: What will happen to the old Million Dollar Bridge? Will it be torn down and sold for scrap concrete, or is there any possible reason why the old bridge should be saved?
Some may think this proposal is a joke. But if visitors to New York can be persuaded to buy the Brooklyn Bridge over and over again, maybe we can sell the Portland bridge too. And in a socially valuable way, by constructing affordable housing on its deck.
We could then establish a joint Portland-South Portland financing plan to sell shares of the bridge to low and moderate-income residents.
Essentially this is the same principle of the apartment cooperatives popular in urban areas such as New York City.
These units would have a "million dollar" view (adjusted for inflation, of course) of the Portland skyline and waterfront. A bicycle and pedestrian causeway could be built so residents could get to parking areas on wither side of the bridge.
Small parks can also be created adjacent to the causeway so this complex would be aesthetically pleasing while providing areas for residents to walk, run, bicycle, have a picnic or simply enjoy their leisure time.
Whether this proposal can be implemented would require many different issues to be addressed. I have listed some of the steps involved (complete with a taxpayers translation in parentheses).
First, a comprehensive study by all the government agencies involved would have to be undertaken (place proposal in circular file and hope everyone forgets about it before we lose the next election).
public hearings would have to be held (whitewash findings to maximize the federal grants that will be available).
Blueprints would have to be drawn up to reflect the floor plans and architectural details (maximize the pork barrel potential of lucrative construction contracts).
And finally, all aspects of the project would be put out to competitive bid for all qualified contractors (call all of your buddies in the construction trades and tell them they're getting an early Christmas present).
Even if all these unlikely steps occur, there is still one concern: Can the public overcome the stigma associated with buying a bridge?
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