Commercial Street, originally named Thames Street, was constructed in the 1850s atop old piers. Fill was added to Casco Bay to meet the increasing demands of the growing railroad and warehousing sectors along the bustling waterfront. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, the street suffered economically, leading to the sale of many properties for non-marine purposes, such as condominiums.
In 1987, Portland voters, spurred by local fishermen who operated along Commercial Street, put a stop to any further non-marine development in the area and its adjacent docks. Marine-focused development began to resurge in the 1990s and 2000s, alongside the growth of tourism-related industries.