Portland, Maine's first hostel could be open by late summer 2011

Great news about a new hostel in Portland, Maine:

City's first hostel could be open by late summer
http://portlanddailysun.me/news/story/citys-first-hostel-could-be-open-late-summer

With the term “hostel” now adopted into city zoning language after Monday night’s city council meeting, one aspiring developer is sharing his plans to open Portland’s first lodging for budget-conscious travelers.

Peter Slayback, a Portland resident with 25 years experience in the hospitality industry, said he hopes to open a 40-bed hostel somewhere in the Arts District by late summer.

“I’ve been following the process and learning about what it would mean to allow a hostel at an affordable price in the city,” said Slayback. “With [Monday night’s] meeting, it’s like a big ‘phew’ — we can move forward and hopefully there will be no more red tape,” he said.

Slayback has been closely following the year-long process of the city enacting a zoning text amendment that will allow for hostels to be established in certain city zones.

The Planning Board voted 6-1 on Jan. 11 to recommend to the City Council the adoption of a zoning text amendment to the Portland Land Use Code for the establishment of a hostel use in the R-6, B-2, B-3, B-5 and B-7 zones.

Staying in a room, hotel guests may end up isolated from the local cultural scene. “That’s not what you want," Slayback said. "But you can go back to a hostel, have a barbecue outside, have interactions, talk adventures, talk about the best places to eat.”