For more than 25 years, the Maine Energy Recovery Company waste-to-energy incinerator was blamed for the stalled redevelopment of Biddeford’s downtown and nearby mill district, and earned the city the moniker “trash town.”
Over the years, trucks loaded with waste from area communities and other states delivered rank odors that wafted through the downtowns on both sides of the Saco River. In addition, many worried about what affect the dioxin and other chemicals spewing from the facility’s smokestack had on residents’ health.
People maintained that, if Maine Energy, or MERC, were to close, redevelopment in the city ”“ which is ideally situated near U.S. 1-95, and boasts a beautiful coastline and historic architecture ”“ would take off.
This statement has proven to be correct.
No sooner did the facility close, in December 2012, than many a developer came knocking at the doors of city officials, said Economic and Community Development Director Daniel Stevenson in past interviews with the Journal Tribune.
Since the closure, significant development plans in the mill district have been greenlighted.
Most notably, redevelopment at the Lincoln Mill is already underway. Tim Harrington and his development company, Atlantic Holdings, LLC of Kennebunkport, is in the midst of constructing a hotel and apartment complex, estimated to bring $50 million in new investment to the city.
In addition, Pepperell Mills Campus has created additional new apartments, added Portland Pie Company to the downtown restaurant scene and other new businesses ”“ and more affordable apartment units are being developed at Riverdam Mil.
The city has its own pony in the race.
Prior to closing, MERC was purchased by the city. The facility ”“ except for its smokestack, which brings in revenue from cellular use ”“ was demolished, and the site cleared. Plans for the highest and best use for the site, now relabled as “3 Lincoln Street,” are in the works.
Earlier this week, Stevenson sat down with the Journal Tribune to discuss recommendations for what to build on the site (see the story on page A1), which range from offices to retail space, apartments and a mix of all those uses.
Stevenson said that later this month residents will be invited to voice their opinions on what they’d like to see built on that vacant piece of land.
When that happens, it’s important that citizens take part in this process and that city officials take residents’ opinions to heart.
We’ve witnessed the harm that can come when one party or another doesn’t do their part ”“ like when the City Council forced MERC on the city back in the mid-1980s, despite some vocal opposition at the time. That mistake took more than two decades to correct.
City officials should also make sure that they are working on behalf of all their citizens, not just the big developers.
Although redevelopment of Lincoln Mill is good for some, it wasn’t for the mostly small business owners who were tenants in the building and were forced out. When that happened, some complained that City Hall didn’t help them the way it helped Harrington.
And despite reports of a recovering economy, some downtown businesses are still suffering, like Youland’s Jewelry, one of the oldest shops on Main Street, which went out of business last year.
It’s important that all take part in the discussions of what should come next at 3 Lincoln St., and to participate in the city’s recovery, so that Biddeford is not just a good place for visitors and developers but also a great place for the residents already here.
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