A Vision for Bayside

For decades, the Bayside Neighborhood Association has a dream of a community center where all are seen, heard, and valued. An anchor for a neighborhood in flux, grappling with the dual pressures of gentrification and a concentration of social challenges. After a 25-year journey of determination, that vision has found a Home at 28 Portland Street

We are poised to convert an underutilized building at 28 Portland Street into the Bayside Opportunity Center (BOC), a vibrant Community Multicultural Center. This is more than a building; it is a promise to the New Mainers, the immigrant and refugee families, the underrepresented residents, ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed), and all who seek a place of belonging. It is a promise to foster a new kind of community—one that is not defined by its struggles, but by its capacity for collaboration, empowerment, and shared success.

The BOC will be a dynamic, people-centered hub where community is built and futures are forged. Our mission is to transform lives by providing a central point for crucial resources:

A Neighborhood Activated

Once the BOC is operational and successful, our vision for the neighborhood around Portland Street is one of vibrant transformation. The street, once known for its challenges, will be bustling with safe pedestrian traffic. Children will walk with their parents. Neighbors will stop to greet one another 

We envision a street where the diversity of our streets is proliferated with new shops and cafes. The sidewalks on Preble and Oxford Streets will be lined with small businesses, owned and operated by the very people the BOC serves. The area will become a destination, known not just for its diversity but for its prosperity, with a flourishing local economy driven by small businesses and a community that feels seen and supported. The presence of the BOC will foster a new sense of safety and community ownership, empowering residents to actively shape their neighborhood’s future.

This project is a win for the entire city—it turns a non-performing asset into a vital resource, activates a challenged street, and reduces costs for public services by fostering a more stable and prosperous community.

Be a thread in Bayside’s tapestry