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Reviving History: Rumery Lofts at 509 Forest Avenue, Portland Maine (Part 5)

February 10, 2025

Contributing Mike Lyne, Developers Collaborative


Back Cove Trail Portland Maine
Back Cove Trail, Portland, Maine

The Neighborhood


Rumery Lofts is just six blocks from Woodfords Corner in Portland, an area rich with history and charm. Woodfords Corner has long been a critical intersection for travelers in Portland, connecting the bustling peninsula with points northwest. The area has seen great changes over time, from horse-drawn trolleys to the electric-powered streetcars that brought vacationers to the casino in Riverton along the Presumpscot River in the late 1800s and early 1900s.


Rumery Lofts will occupy the second and third floors of 509 Forest Ave., a building that once housed the lively Ricker Gardens dance hall. Between 1933 and 1945, Ricker Gardens was one of Portland’s most famous venues, attracting some of the biggest names in American music, including Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Ella Fitzgerald.


However, as the automobile industry boomed, the area experienced a shift in focus, with once-thriving destinations becoming mere traffic routes. Woodfords Corner, like many areas, went through decades of neglect. But today, the neighborhood is a story of revival. As Alexandra Hall wrote in Condé Nast Traveler, “Now, at every turn, you’ll find establishments pouring Maine-made beer, high-octane coffee, cool restaurants, cult-status tattoo artists, cycling shops, and new public art.”


For those lucky enough to call Rumery Lofts home, the surrounding neighborhood offers a wealth of local gems, all within a 1–10-minute walk:



...and that’s just the beginning. The revitalized Woodford’s Corner is a treasure trove of experiences and an exciting place to explore, all while living in a piece of Portland’s history.


Explore more of Woodford's Corner here: https://www.portlandlandmarks.org/woodfords-corner



Stay tuned for more entries of Reviving History: Rumery Lofts at 509 Forest Avenue, Portland Maine

 

                                                                                                              

Rumery Lofts at 509 Forest Ave, Portland, Maine
Rumery Lofts at 509 Forest Ave, Portland, Maine

Rumery Lofts - Coming June of 2025!


  • Studio, 1BR and 2BR apartments with garage parking

  • 12,000 sf. of first floor commercial space available immediately subject to tenant's buildout needs.


For more information about the project, email info@developerscollaborative.com.

For residential leasing information, please email leasing@dcmaine.com.

For commercial space information, call The Boulos Company at 207-772-1333.



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