4 Frustrating Things About Living and Working in Portland, Maine

The world seems to be in love with Maine's largest city. Portland is constantly ending up on some 'best of' list like best restaurant cities, best cities to raise a family in and healthiest cities for women. With all this praise from the rest of the country, there are still some pretty frustrating things about Portland for those of us living and working here. 

1. The Cost of Housing is Ridiculous

It's becoming more and more apparent that only the well-to-do can afford to live in Portland. According to a report by the Portland Press Herald, the housing market is tight as more and more people are moving to Portland from out-of-state. There are now more Portland residents who weren't born in Maine than natives. That's totally changed the landscape of the city. Rents have skyrocketed over the past five years and condos are popping up everywhere, transforming once local neighborhoods into places the rich can only afford. If you can find a place to live here, you'll probably get more for your money living in another town and commuting to Portland.

2. The Cost of Parking is Ridiculous

Parking in Portland can seem just as hard to come by as housing. Street parking is $1 an hour for a maximum of 2 hours. Then you better move it or you'll get ticketed. Want to park in a garage? Prices range from $2 to $5 an hour and monthly parking is well over $100 in most places and some without overnight access. Many lots that used to be free overnight, during non business hours, require you to pay $5 an hour at a kiosk or get a boot. Even the downtown Post Office lot charges this now.

3. Forest Avenue Traffic

Forest Avenue is broken. It shouldn't take 15 minutes to go from the I-295 ramp to Woodford's Corner at 2PM on a Friday. That's one mile, and you aren't even out of the city yet. There have been rumblings about doing something to alleviate the traffic, but so far, nothing.

4. Graffiti

It's a problem in every city in America, but it seems like it's gotten out of control here in Portland over the past few years. Yes, some of it is on buildings with permission but most are not. Bridges, overpasses, and public buildings are tagged regularly and re-tagged as soon as they're painted over. Take a look behind Hadlock Field when you drive by on I-295 and you'll see what I mean.

Portland has a lot of great things going for it, but sometimes it feels disconnected from the rest of the state. Is that a good or a bad thing? That varies depending on who you ask. It certainly is not the city it used to be and that too can be a good or bad thing. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter.