1342 Congress St. - Portland, MEPortland, ME Harriman and The Cecil Group celebrated the groundbreaking for the Alfred Osher Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) campus on June 10.
The current JCA building at 57 Ashmont St. was purchased in 1985 as a temporary center and, after 30 years, is inadequate for current programs and expanding participation. In December 2014 the JCA purchased the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church at 1342 Congress St. from the Archdiocese of Portland, and demolition began in November 2015 to clear the land to make way for the new JCA campus. The churchstone along with several buckets of rubble have been put aside for church members to claim as mementos. Also, a time capsule was discovered and given to the church.
Designed by Harriman, the 19,000 s/f Morris A. and Bertha Levine Portland Jewish Community Center will be home to an accredited five-classroom pre-school, after-school enrichment program, community meeting rooms, a multi-purpose assembly hall, library, kitchen, food pantry and administrative offices.
Harriman will work with the construction manager, Ledgewood Construction, during the 15-month construction process.
With a mission to build Jewish community locally, in Israel and throughout the world, the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) is a non-profit organization formed by the merger of three organizations: the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Portland, and Jewish Family Services. Serving the Jewish community of Southern Maine, JCA develops, provides and supports diverse programs, education, and services.
“Our new complex will enhance our ability to serve people in our region as the connecting hub of Jewish life in Southern Maine,” said Daniel Pearl, co-chair of the JCA building committee.