Massive Crane Moves Into Downtown Portland, Maine To Build Tallest Building

The streets of downtown Portland are a little crowded for the rest of the week as work progresses on what will be the tallest residential building in Maine.

In May of 2021, the Portland City Planning Board approved the construction of 200 Federal, an 18-story apartment building planned by Redfern Properties, a company that has built several of Portland's modern-looking buildings around the city recently.

Clearing of the parking lot and plaza that was at the back entrance to the United States Postal Service's downtown station was done in August of last year and construction began shortly thereafter. Most of the work thus far has been digging a deep hole for the substructure of the building. The site is directly across the street from our studios, so we see the progress every day and this week they brought in the big guns.

A giant crane now sits on Temple Street blocking all traffic connecting with Congress Street. Since construction began, barricades were put up making Temple Street one way from Congress to Federal Street. Now it's is completely closed from Congress to Fore Street while the giant crane is there to do its work.

The streets will be closed until the end of the week while the crane work is going on.

When completed, 200 Federal will be 5 feet taller than Franklin Towers, currently the tallest building in Portland, sixth highest in the state and tallest residential building in the state. It would be made up of 265 apartments, mostly studio and one-bedrooms.