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\t\t\t110 Free St. in Portland has been purchased by the Portland Museum of Art. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t110 Free St. in Portland has been purchased by the Portland Museum of Art. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n
The Portland Museum of Art is set to take another step to address growing pains associated with its ambitious expansion plans.<\/p>\n
The museum announced on Friday the purchase of properties at 110, 120, 128 and 130 Free St. that are currently home to a MaineHealth administrative building and private parking lots.<\/p>\n
The sale means that the PMA now owns nearly all of a city block between Spring and Free streets.<\/p>\n
PMA is still assessing specific uses for the new properties, but intends for the 110 Free St. property to eventually host administrative offices, giving the museum some needed legroom for galleries, exhibits, and visitor services within its current footprint.<\/p>\n
PMA officials declined to respond to questions by phone, instead providing responses to several questions by email.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a critical return-to-form for the museum,\u201d Marcie Parker Griswold, PMA\u2019s head of communications and audience engagement, wrote in an email. \u201cMany of our current offices were originally meant for gallery space, but have more recently been used for administrative purposes as the museum has grown.\u201d <\/p>\n
But \u201cwhat\u2019s arguably most exciting,\u201d Parker Griswold said, is the creation of 140 public parking spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be able to open up the adjacent parking lot to the public, which is a huge benefit to both museumgoers and the entire downtown and Arts District area,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
PMA and MaineHealth aren\u2019t disclosing the sale price until it becomes official in March, but said it will be funded by the museum\u2019s board.<\/p>\n
The acquisition is part of PMA\u2019s $100 million Blueprint project, a long-term plan to unify its campus, towards which they have raised $65 million. Part of that project also includes the ongoing construction of a new wing at the former Children\u2019s Museum and Theatre of Maine at 142 Free St.<\/a> <\/p>\n