[CPProt.net] Museum closes before opening

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Museum closes before opening

By Whit Richardson 
Staff Writer
SO. PORTLAND (Aug 18): The Museum of Glass and Ceramics, which has been
announcing its arrival with a large, colorful sign at the foot of the Casco
Bay Bridge since 2003, has been closed before ever opening. The museum filed
for bankruptcy earlier this month. 

The old National Guard Armory was to house the museum, which was founded in
2002. But the building has sat empty since then because of what the museum's
Acting President Lynn Coburn and former Executive Director John Holverson
described in a written statement as "obstacles that ultimately could not be
overcome." 

Those obstacles were the illness of a major donor and the subsequent
withdrawal of critical funding and ongoing litigation surrounding a major
portion of the museum's collection, the statement said.

South Portland City Manager Jeff Jordan said he expected the property would
end up back on the market.

He said some city councilors have asked him to gather information on the
property. The city made two bids of $250,000 each for the property when it
originally went up for sale four years ago, Jordan said, but the council
walked away when the state wanted $500,000.

Jordan said the property would be a good strategic buy for the city because
of its closeness to existing municipal buildings, such as Central Fire
Station, and its location at the gateway to the city. He said the city had
an "obligation" to look at the future potential of the site. 

City Councilor Rosemarie De Angelis agreed and said the City Council would
be discussing the issue at a future workshop. The property "literally sits
at the entrance to our city. At the very least (the City Council) should
have a discussion about the potential of the building."

"Municipalities don't go out of business," Jordan said. "We have a very long
planning horizon."

Jordan said the city was not currently looking for a new public works
building regardless of the city's attempt to purchase the DuraStone property
in June.

Voters in a referendum at the time turned down a $4.8 million bond package
proposal to purchase that property, which Jordan said would have been a
"wonderful opportunity" to consolidate seven municipal buildings and four
department operations at a single facility and in an industrial zone.