Maine
Old Town is one of 2 Maine downtowns chosen for accelerated revitalization effort
Three years after a devastating hearth ripped by way of the center of downtown Previous City, town is certainly one of two in Maine that’s been chosen for an accelerated planning course of geared toward figuring out what comes subsequent as town works on redeveloping its downtown.
Previous City was chosen, together with Hallowell, as certainly one of two downtowns to work with the Maine Downtown Middle on a seven- to 10-week streamlined planning course of. Previous City will work with the group in addition to a marketing consultant centered on revitalizing downtowns on a downtown and broader financial improvement effort.
The Maine Downtown Middle, part of the Maine Improvement Basis, offers programming and steerage to cities throughout Maine to assist revitalize their downtowns, in response to the middle’s web site.
Because the 2019 hearth, a gap within the part of downtown that the blaze hit has remained, however new companies have crammed the areas surrounding the opening, infusing new life into the realm. Because the hearth, three new eating places have opened in Previous City’s downtown, together with Kosta’s, Pepper’s Touchdown and Kanu. Moreover, Previous City lately welcomed a brand new bakery to its downtown.
As a part of town’s efforts to revitalize downtown, it bought a vacant constructing in Might that it plans to market as a key area to open up companies.
The town plans to couple the property with the previous website of the Previous City Canoe manufacturing facility, a largely empty lot that runs alongside Maine and Middle streets, which town has been working to fill for years.
The town final summer season additionally examined out a “pop-up store” mall on a portion of the previous Previous City Canoe website.
Previous City’s new downtown committee will work with the Maine Downtown Middle to create a plan that may deal with present property such because the Penobscot River, public artwork, and long-standing occasions corresponding to Riverfest whereas attracting new small companies to the core downtown district.
Previous City’s director of financial and neighborhood improvement, E.J. Roach, stated the partnership will deliver momentum and construction for change within the metropolis, and doubtlessly the broader area.
“The impression this program could have on our neighborhood and this area will likely be transformational and can create extra financial stability for town of Previous City,” he stated.