Over the last several weeks, we’ve talked a lot about the revitalization of Downtown Presque Isle. It’s interesting to note that we’re not the only community thinking this way. Communities all over the state are working hard to strengthen the energies of their downtown areas, as well. Let’s take a trip downstate and see what they’ve done, starting with Bath.
In 1976, a renovation was undertaken by the City of Bath that included installing brick sidewalks with granite curbing, historically-appropriate street lighting reminiscent of 19th Century gas lamps, plantings, and benches. Downtown property owners and businesses redesigned and restored storefronts with mullioned windows and appropriate signs replacing plate glass and plastic neon signs. In 1977, in recognition of the joint restoration efforts, the National Trust presented its annual President’s Award to the Chamber of Commerce, the City, SPI and the Maine Maritime Museum.
Many small local businesses have opened in the recently restored downtown of Bath. Large spaces formerly occupied by department or chain stores are now occupied by Reny’s and R.M. Tate (craft and office supplies and gifts), or have been divided into smaller spaces. Former stores that had been converted to offices for BIW have been returned to retail use. In the era of “big box” stores and shopping centers, Bath’s downtown still has a diverse mix of retail shopping and services. Bath Iron Works has recently completed a multi-million dollar expansion and modernization of its shipyard that bodes well for the future of the Shipbuilding City and its downtown.
Heart of Biddeford (HOB), the Biddeford’s Main Street group, is also working to revitalize the downtown. HOB’s design committee is gearing up to make the downtown more visually appealing, including creating a new use for a vacant lot on Main Street. The economic restructuring committee is working on a “doing business in downtown Biddeford” guide, which will make it easier for the new businesses coming into town to locate here. The group is also starting an attraction plan for the downtown. With all of the great energy in Biddeford, we are delighted to have them as part of the Main Street Maine program!
The face of Water Street in Gardner, Maine, has been restored with busy awning-covered sidewalks, freshly painted bricks, clean windows, and carefully preserved original architectural features. Gardner draws office workers and other creative and high-tech professionals, stimulated by their spectacular surroundings where original ideas just keep coming. It’s a neighborhood with a healthy cross-section of residents (including several upscale units), all providing a great customer base for the downtown restaurants, stores, banks, niche shops, galleries, and personal, health, and legal services on lower floors. Innovative exterior elevator towers and walkways are blended into the black facades of historic buildings. Tree-lined parking areas lend a flowery air to the business of thousands of cars coming and going each day.
For over three decades, the City of Bangor has implemented programs to preserve downtown’s historic character and sense of place while assuring that it meets the needs of the community. Today, Downtown is a lively residential neighborhood, a showcase for effective building re-use projects, and the cultural center of the city. One of its downtown success stories are the W.T. Grant building, which, after being restored, is now the home to Epic Sport on the ground floor and offices for the University of Maine System on the upper floors. The 6-floor Freeses Building was vacant from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s when it was acquired by the City. Thanks to a combination of private and public investment, the building has re-emerged as a showpiece, serving as an elderly and assisted living facility and home to the Maine Discovery Museum, the largest children’s museum north of Boston and an attraction that draws visitors from eastern Maine and beyond.
And let’s not forget “The County!” Van Buren once boasted a strong economy based on timber and agriculture. While those industries have faced many hurdles over the years, Van Buren has been able to attract a number of new ventures, including Aegis, a manufacturer of high-end bicycles. Now, as a new member of the Main Street program, Van Buren will be able to do more to revitalize and re-energize its downtown.
Did you enjoy your trip? Did you get a taste of what other communities in Maine are doing to improve the hearts of their communities? Let’s put our Aroostook County character and work ethic together and energize the Star City so it will shine even more brightly than it does now.
The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee would like to hear from you. Please send us your thoughts and comments to:
The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee, 411 Main St., Presque Isle, ME 04769
The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee is an ad hoc committee of the Presque Isle City Council.
