Yes, I think at this point, I should confirm that this is the Fore St. Garage. The owner has installed, at his own expense, a Clipper Creek 100 and a CHAdeMO, as well as enough to solar panels to make the garage approximately net-grid-neutral.
One issue is the 24/7 access that Tesla seeks for all sites. Every parking garage in Portland shuts in the wee hours, but the owner has proposed that the valets at the adjacent Hyatt (which he also owns) could provide 24/7 access, and/or that the gates could be opened by a Tesla fob.
While there are probably easier sites at, say, the Maine Mall or strip malls down in South Portland, I think the demographic that buys Tesla vehicles would far rather spend time in a character-filled area like Portland's Old Port. My experience charging at the Auburn Mall was anything but pleasant, and I'd hate to inflict that same negative experience on visitors here.
I suggest that people Google map the location and look at all the places around to understand what an excellent location this is. Although downtown, it's easy to get to. I-295 Exit 7. It's an exit to go downtown only (the other direction's water, so you can't turn the wrong way off it), drive in the right travel lane, turn right onto Fore St, drive to parking garage on right (please don't hit the pedestrians on the way). I'm not familiar with peak travel there, but on a Saturday evening the traffic certainly isn't bad, so I'd expect that most times people will be there it won't take very long to get to the site. The Old Port does get busy with tourists in summer, but Fore St is not where the heaviest traffic is.
There's plenty of food and drink nearby, including a Five Guys burgers and a gelato and coffee place (Gelato Fiasco) on the same side of the street (and another gelato place across the street!) It's also in a very walkable area (although it can be a bit hilly) with plenty of other shopping nearby. When Portland is asleep, the Hyatt Place lobby should also be accessible from the parking garage so you won't have to sit in the car while it charges.
Despite all the back and forth and delays we've documented, I hope that people understand what a great location this is and how much trouble the site owner is willing to go to get a Supercharger there. He really does support plug-ins. I met him at the Drive Electric Week event in South Portland, where he was showing his loaded P85. He's also had 2 Volts, has or had a reservation for an X, and was thinking of trading his P85 to get a P85D when it was announced.
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Thanks Robert. I will try to help from my end as well. I know the Maine Mall is just 'OK' but it is easier access to long distance travelers up and down 95. However, Maine (esp Portland) needed an SC a year ago so any location is acceptable at this point.:wink: I am surprised with his business ventures in Portland that he has not been able to bring more pressure to bear on CMP......but I digress.
So, is it correct to say that the hold up at this point is CMP. No problem with City of Portland, property owner or TM...all in CMP's court at this time?
To be honest, regular travelers wouldn't take I-95 unless they're specifically heading to the Lewiston/Auburn area. Although the I-295 speed limit drops through Portland, I-295
a) is shorter
b) is faster
c) provides cut-off points to Route 1.
d) is toll-free
Maine DOT will try to direct you to I-95, but Mainers know to ignore them unless it's an extreme peak holiday weekend where there might be insane I-295/Route 1 traffic.
I believe it's all just a CMP issue, and that it's really a transformer siting issue, not otherwise an infrastructural issue. It's in a parking garage in Downtown Portland, so there wouldn't be zoning issues for traffic or supply problems. (Also, since it's prime and covered, there's not going to be any problem when there's heavy snow.)
