Downtown revitalization seems to be the order of the day, with several York County municipalities undertaking efforts to brighten up their formerly bustling centers of commerce.
Just a few years ago, Saco officials approved funds to install shiny, black lightposts along the Main Street strip, bury the power lines underground and build bump-out sidewalks. The result is an inviting stretch of shops in the heart of the city, resurrecting an era when one could do their business at City Hall or the post office and then stop for lunch at a locally owned shop ”“ all on foot.
The upgrades have been coupled with downtown events hosted by downtown revitalization group Saco Spirit, from the harvest festival in the fall to the Sidewalk Arts festival in June, which draw people downtown to see what’s offered there. The efforts both of Saco Spirit and of the public works department seem to be worth the effort, as several of the shops downtown have been successful enough to stick around for several years.
Along with Saco’s success, the ongoing efforts of other nearby towns are almost too many on which to keep tabs. About five years ago, the Town of Arundel even tried to float a “town center” proposal that would have created a downtown area where none exists currently. The effort was rejected by voters who prefer the town’s rural feel, but the idea was certainly representative of a movement in this area to embrace downtowns.
It seems every municipality is jumping on the downtown revitalization bandwagon, realizing that having a thriving physical center to a town can help maintain its figurative heart.
Recently, Old Orchard Beach has used grants to greatly improve business facades in its downtown, and the OOB365 group has been focusing on drawing crowds to the area during the off-season, with its winter festival, New Year’s celebration and other events.
Sanford councilors just this week got a first look at a downtown improvement plan that suggests bump-out sidewalks, a waterfront park and space for cafe tables outside of restaurants.
Kennebunk is deep into improving its downtown, too, with a new bridge under construction to cross the river under its stretch of Route 1, and recently approved plans to spruce up the popular Lower Village section.
Perhaps the most comprehensive effort is going on in Biddeford, however, with community involvement in several master plan meetings.
As in Saco, Biddeford’s downtown revitalization group Heart of Biddeford has been working with the Downtown Development Commission as well as the local arts community to bring people downtown. The Chalk on the Walk festival has grown over the years to include vendors and musical performances along with the sidewalk drawings, while the monthly Art Walk includes stops at various shops and the North Dam Mill.
The master plan that is now under development will take these efforts to the next level, and this process should serve as a model for other communities. Several public forums, the last of which occurred this week, have been held in Biddeford to help planners determine what the community really wants to see downtown, 10 to 15 years in the future. The community involvement was required by the city’s grant for the planning process, but it’s something other towns should strongly consider before composing a downtown plan.
This effort to gather different ideas has allowed the planners to hear from youth, whose voices are often obscured, and led to such ideas as creating a teen center to bring young people downtown.
The forums, which have been well attended by young and older residents alike, have led to other ideas included extending Main Street-style lighting onto Alfred Street and building a parking garage.
With the major employers long gone from the downtown and the walking culture largely a relic of the past, it takes some creativity to draw people back into the heart of the city when large commerce centers on the outskirts beckon with their easy parking and one-stop shopping.
Convenience and unique opportunities are what will bring people back to the downtowns, we believe, and we fully support the idea of a parking garage that has arisen from these forums. In Biddeford, the shops are already there ”“ Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican and Indian foods that you can’t get at any nearby big box chain restaurant mingle with unique shops such as a record store and an art supply store, to performances at City Theater.
The Heart of Biddeford has been doing well raising residents’ awareness of these offerings, but until the convenience factor comes into play ”“ lots of easy parking and improved sidewalks ”“ it will be a struggle to get the downtown bustling again.
We agree with those at the community forums that a parking garage must be a priority. It should be considered by other towns that are seeking to build up their downtowns, too. Removing this barrier will give Biddeford the final push toward success in reinvigorating its downtown.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.