Since 1995, Skowhegan has had downtown revitalization on its agenda. Initial plans sought the establishment of a nationally-certified Main Street program, rehabilitation of the lighting and sidewalks, reconnecting downtown to the municipal parking lot on one side and the Kennebec River and riverside walking trails on the other. Enhancements to pedestrian experience in and through downtown, and upper floor ADA accessibility for the Flatiron through the Renaissance building construction in 2007 are some of the more recent visible improvements in downtown Skowhegan. Sewer and water improvements have also occurred, historic preservation has begun to be addressed, and design of greenspace and streetscape projects for overall health and vibrancy of our town center are now emerging. Throughout all of this, national trends of changes to the traditional retail model, municipal and other services now accessible by computer, and challenges of two-parent working families have changed the way we interact with our downtowns. Thus, thoughtful, sustainable clusters of development are the most prudent use of town spaces overall, and our downtowns deliver this.
In January of 2011, members of Main Street’s Economic Restructuring and Design Committees, working in collaboration with the Town of Skowhegan’s Highway, and Economic and Community Development Departments, sought to inventory all of the past reports and recommendations, list accomplishments to date, and discuss key areas of concern for the newest and most relevant Downtown Comprehensive Plan, which we hope will offer a roadmap for the next ten years. Utilizing the state and voter-approved Skowhegan Comprehensive Plan of 2010 as our guidance document, the information contained here is a summary of that work to date, as well as an invitation to all community members to offer feedback to this process.
Main Street Skowhegan will also conduct an informational forum of this work at the Skowhegan Town Office on Monday, April 11, at 6 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Chambers.
Throughout our visioning, community branding, and stakeholder weekly work sessions, we have identified key revitalization strategies and public infrastructure and improvement projects.
Revitalization Strategies include:
1. Development of incentives for new and existing business
2. Visioning and Branding
3. Downtown Marketing-Putting Downtown Skowhegan on the map
4. Upper story professional and residential development
5. Advocacy for Downtown business and projects at Local, County, State, and Federal Government levels
6. Development of Grant and Funding Opportunities for Business Incubation
7. Main Street Skowhegan’s role in facilitating comprehensive, incremental change using the four-point approach for downtown revitalization.
Infrastructure and Public Improvement Projects include:
1. Municipal Parking Lot Infrastructure and Improvement Projects-Commercial, High and Court Streets
a. Traffic Flow & Calming
b. Paving and Grading
c. Green Space and Buffers
d. Wayfinding & Signage
e. Pedestrian Walkways-Downtown
f. Adaptive Reuse
g. Food Shed/Hub Development
i. Farmers Market
j. Theater
k. Chamber of Commerce
2. Waterfront Gorge Development
a. Wayfinding & Signage
b. Riverfront Walkway/Renaissance
d. Riverfront Parking Area
e. Waterfront Access
f. Connection to Trail System
g. Traffic & Bridges
h. Turning Back to the River
i. Run of River White Water Plan
3. Madison-Commercial Street Cluster
a. Traffic & Pedestrian Safety
b. Historical Preservation
c. Downtown Visual Impact
4. Community and Public Amenities
a. Skowhegan Free Public Library