Construction of what could be Maine’s tallest building and the state’s first high-rise in over a decade received approval Tuesday night from the Portland Planning Board.
The board unanimously OK’d site plans to construct an 18-story apartment building in downtown Portland, a $50 million project that would bring 263 units of much-needed housing to the city.
Landry/French Construction, based in Scarborough, will serve as construction manager. Work is expected to begin by September on the site, at 200 Federal St., and to be complete in late 2023.
Plans for the building required a zoning change earlier this year to allow the top 40 feet of the 190-foot structure to be used for residences and other purposes. Previously, the city’s code allowed a building of that height, but only with an “architectural cap” containing mechanical equipment or to enhance design.