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MEREDA’s Morning Menu – How to Rezone a Town: Lessons Learned During ReCode

Jan 17, 2025 | Blog

Aerial view of Portland, ME

Event Details

March 20, 2025 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
On March 20th, MEREDA will host a breakfast event featuring a discussion on Portland’s updated ReCode. ReCode has been a nearly decade-long process of overhauling Portland’s Chapter 14 Land Use Ordinance, with its full adoption occurring in late 2024. This “upzone” of Portland’s zoning will have a tremendous impact on development in the years to come.

Join us for a conversation with Christine Grimando and Brandon Mazer, two of the architects of ReCode, to understand how the process transpired, and what lessons they learned along the way.

Meet our Presenters:
Christine Grimando has been an urban planner in Maine for nearly two decades. Currently a Senior Planning Lead with VHB, she provides consulting services to communities throughout Maine on the topics of land use, housing, transportation, and sustainability. Prior to VHB, Christine served as the Director of Planning and Urban Development for the City of Portland where she oversaw ReCode Phase I and 2, Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, and myriad other development, policy, and long-range planning initiatives relating to housing, transportation planning, climate resilience, preservation, open space design, and zoning and land use. Christine serves on the Board of Directors of GrowSmart Maine. She lives in Portland with her wife and son.

Brandon Mazer is an attorney at Perkins Thompson focused on municipal and business law, and currently serves as Corporation Counsel for the City of South Portland. Prior to joining Perkins Thompson he served as General Counsel for Shipyard Brewing Company for over seven years. He has served on the Portland Planning Board since 2017, serving as Chair for over four years. During his tenure on the Planning Board, Brandon has helped approve over 1600 units of housing and, most notably, lead the Planning Board through both phases of Recode. Brandon is also on the Board of Trustees for the Maine State Music Theatre and the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Maine.

Moderating the program is co-chair of MEREDA’s Local Issues Committee, John Finegan. John joined The Boulos Company in 2020 and is an Associate Broker. He works throughout Greater Portland in all areas of commercial real estate including the buying, selling, and leasing of office, retail, industrial, and multifamily family properties. John also works on ground-up development, with a particular focus on multifamily development and economic policymaking as it relates to development.

Ticket Pricing:
Member $45 | Non-Member $55

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by March 13. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after March 13. Prices increase by $10 after March 13.

Register Here — https://mereda.org/events/meredas-morning-menu-update-on-portlands-recode/

This event is Sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

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McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

wed14jan8:30 am10:00 amMEREDA Morning Menu: SAY YES! TO HOUSING8:30 am - 10:00 am McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center, 35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

Event Details

January 14, 2026 – 8:30 – 10:00 amBuffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 amProgram: 9:00-10:00 am Location: McGoldrick Career & Student Success

Event Details

January 14, 2026 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

A Statewide Coalition Ready to Move Hearts, Minds, and Policy – Be in the room where Maine’s housing future is being shaped.

Join us for an energizing, don’t-miss morning with the leaders behind Build Homes, Build Community—the powerful new statewide coalition driving real momentum for pro-housing solutions.  This is your chance for direct access, real conversation, and insider insight into the campaign that’s rapidly becoming one of the most influential forces in Maine’s housing landscape. With the Legislature preparing to vote on critical housing bills, the timing couldn’t be more urgent—or more exciting.

Come ready to learn:
• What this campaign is
• Who is leading it
• How you can play an active role in shaping housing policy statewide

Leave inspired, informed, and equipped to help Maine tackle its most pressing challenge.
________________________________________________________________
Why This Matters — Right Now

“Maine’s housing shortage undermines all our communities and our entire statewide economy,” says Patrick Woodcock, President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “This coalition is here to change Maine’s trajectory by implementing pragmatic solutions that unlock housing development and allow our communities—and our people—to thrive.”

Backed by respected statewide leaders including the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, MEREDA, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and the Portland Regional Chamber, Build Homes, Build Community is mobilizing Mainers to:

  • Lower the cost of housing construction by reducing unnecessary regulations
  • Encourage communities to welcome housing through targeted assistance
  • Promote convenient connected communities where services are close and Mainers thrive
  • Accelerate permit approvals at the local and state level

Supported by partners such as Lighthouse Credit Union, Kennebec Savings Bank, Zachau Construction, Westbrook Housing Development, Bangor Savings Bank, and many others, the campaign is gaining fast momentum.
________________________________________________________________

Collage of presenters for January 14, 2026 Build Homes Build Community breakfast event.

Panel Participants
• Bev Uhlenhake, Pierce Atwood (Moderator)
• Shannon Richards (Maine Real Estate & Development Association – MEREDA)
• Laura Mitchell (Maine Affordable Housing Coalition – MAHC)
• Patrick Woodcock (Maine State Chamber of Commerce)
________________________________________________________________

Join Us—Your Voice Matters
If you care about Maine’s future, its communities, or its economy, this is the conversation to be part of.  Seats will go fast—say YES to housing and YES to being there.
________________________________________________________________

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by January 7. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after January 7.

Prices increase by $10 after January 7.

Thank you to our Breakfast Series Sponsor:

Norway Savings Bank Transparent Logo 2

Time

January 14, 2026 8:30 am - 10:00 am

Location

McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center

35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

Register Here

Price $45.00

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Total Price $45.00

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Parking

Everyone that parks on the USM Campus in the Bedford Street Garage has to use the digital parking system. You can pre-register for your parking session or do it upon arrival. Commit your license number to memory!  You’ll need it to complete your parking session.  To avoid a parking citation, you must begin your digital parking session – and pay – within 10 minutes of parking. 

Parking Instructions (PDF)

Click Here to Download the Event Parking Instructions.

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Portland, ME 04101
info@mereda.org

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