The Portland City Council approved the Munjoy Hill Historic District Monday night in a turnaround of February’s vote against it, a move that brings with it an in-depth look at the impact of historic districts as a whole how they’re created.
The vote was a result of a reconsideration request by Councilor Andrew Zarro, of District 4, who voted against the district Feb. 1, but asked three weeks after the vote that the council take another look. His vote was the difference in Monday night’s 5-4 approval.
Zarro said that other moves the city is making, including a study on the impact of its 12 historic districts, are a big step forward. “Portland will be one of the first cities to modernize historic preservation and what it means” to residents and the city as a whole, he said.
The Munjoy Hill Historic District is the city’s 12th, and includes 376 contributing properties — ones that meet the criteria for age and retained historic features — representing 88% of the property in the 64-acre district. It’s part of the 162-acre neighborhood at the eastern end of the Portland peninsula. Overall, the district comprises 49% of of Munjoy Hill’s building stock.
Arguments since 2018 on both sides of the issue — from the council, the planning board and city residents — cited lack of affordable housing in the city, growing gentrification of the neighborhood and policies and development trends that stymie diversity and equity.
The Feb. 1 meeting that resulted in the district being voted down centered around issues of affordable housing and equity. But Monday’s meeting was more about the raw emotions the reconsideration inflamed, including attacks on the integrity of District 1 Councilor Belinda Ray, who represents Munjoy Hill, and people confronting employees in the restaurant Zarro owns.