A planned expansion to the Portland Museum of Art is now looking even bigger.

Maine Public reports that the museum plans to acquire four downtown properties on Free Street currently owned by MaineHealth, who are consolidating its administrative office space over the next two years. PMA plans to move their administrative staff into one of the buildings to free up the McClellan House to the public.

PMA Director Mark Bessire said a surface parking lot is also part of the deal, saying it’ll open up new opportunities for both the museum and the local art district.

“We do think there’s no doubt that having the parking open in this area, street parking, will help all the local businesses, the State Theatre to the Flat Iron,” he told Maine Public. “And we probably will see an increase in our attendance at the museum of maybe 5% or 10% by having adjacent parking.”

This is in addition to a new museum wing being built at the former site of the Children’s Museum, a move that drew controversy over the since-demolished building’s historical significance.

There’s no firm timeline for the project yet, but the museum says it’s about 2/3rds of the way through a $100 million fundraising goal.

To read the original Maine Public article, click here.