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Our Downtown: Heartbeat of Biddeford Preserve and reinvest in the economic, aesthetic and cultural future of City of Biddeford by promoting viability and liveliness of the downtown district. “A
vibrant
downtown
will
be
like
embracing a loved one; it will quicken your pulse, provide comfort and make every moment magical.” Biddeford’s downtown was once the home to thousands of workers, shoppers and residents. Return to walkable downtowns, a national trend, is providing an opportunity to revitalize and repurposes the downtown. To be successful it is recommended that: Encourage vast array of housing choices by: creating market rate housing for ownership and rental creating workplace housing support the redevelopment of housing stock in the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods ensure housing is safe encourage building codes to reflect the historical nature of the community encourage form-based code adoption for all uses encourage mixed-use buildings codes that are easy to achieve discourage use of suburban planning standards for downtowns, i.e. eliminate parking requirements Capture the heritage, historical significance and character of the community by: create a ‘theme’ of the downtown easily understand theme defines the customer experience make improvements in the downtown that complement the theme.
Establish business improvement district to: serve as the ‘keeper of the flame’ for the downtown revitalization create a vehicle to increase dedicated funding for: keeping the downtown clean and well maintained increasing the public perception of safety participate in events and activities in the downtown financially support beautification projects funded by additional tax levy within district
Create urban entertainment district that will: build on the success of the City Theatre support programing of the City Theatre encourage policies that will support night life support creative arts investments encourage restaurant investment encourage specialty retail support creation of museum with emphasis on mill history encourage festivals
2017 Strategic Plan
Page | 1
Our Downtown: Heartbeat of Biddeford Improve or bring new facilities into the downtown including: a significant children’s play area a dog park public restrooms create a year round farmers market support it with a permanent home and structure make it a destination Showcase historical significant canal and tunnel system as part of the downtown experience and draw
Change focus on infrastructure improvements from vehicular to pedestrian use the pedestrian point of view in design and redesign projects in downtown connect Riverwalk with other pedestrian ways that together make an integrated pedestrian system review streets and consider permanently closing them to create pedestrian mall create ongoing events that utilize Main St completely requiring that section to be closed Create strategy to capture more discretionary spending that occurs within the region
Build 1st class Riverwalk complete conceptual layout to include: mechanics park to eastern trail via diamond match property include another pedestrian bridge to saco island proceed with significant portion of project at one time to afford the benefits design a complete pedestrian system that is built with same streetscape design and feel throughout the downtown using the Riverwalk for access points to the river for recreation to be used by residents and visitors Seek alternative transportations opportunities in the downtown by: continue efforts to make downtown bicycle friendly seek multi-modal transportation center in or very near to the downtown that includes: bus service to Portland, Boston, New York and other locations better connections to Amtrak station in Saco or a relocation that serves the downtown better it is center of the local bus service can adequately serve as a primary location for the local shuttle bus creates an easier way for buses and bus tours to use the downtown increase information about public transportation to encourage greater utilization Create and fund a façade grant program for store fronts Create and fund incubator space for business start ups
2017 Strategic Plan
Page | 2
Our Downtown: Heartbeat of Biddeford Expand the downtown beyond a linear downtown by: utilizing pedestrian connections to other sections of downtown seek to close some streets feeding Main St to create pedestrian plazas expand programs to encourage development on the adjacent streets to Main St such as: façade grant program form based zoning reduction in parking requirements Identify gateways to the community and the specifically in the downtown create a formal gateway design to notify visitors that you have entered the downtown rehab 15elm st building Create specific identities for adjacent neighborhoods to the downtown Create parking system to enhance downtown area Identify the total need for parking at full build out of downtown and preliminary locations to create parking for that need eliminate free parking for downtown eliminate or greatly reduce the current general property taxation support for parking by going to user base system construct parking structure(s) connect parking structures with the pedestrian walkways complimentary to the Riverwalk design Create a marketing plan for the downtown area establish a specific theme and logo to help identify it as a destination utilize the business improvement district to serve as the agency to determine the details Find a mixed use for 3 Lincoln street property statement building to be part of the gateway into community
2017 Strategic Plan
Page | 3
Our Downtown: Heartbeat of Biddeford Preserve and reinvest in the economic, aesthetic and cultural future of City of Biddeford by promoting viability and liveliness of the downtown district. “A
vibrant
downtown
will
be
like
embracing a loved one; it will quicken your pulse, provide comfort and make every moment magical.” Biddeford’s downtown was once the home to thousands of workers, shoppers and residents. Return to walkable downtowns, a national trend, is providing an opportunity to revitalize and repurposes the downtown. To be successful it is recommended that: Encourage vast array of housing choices by: creating market rate housing for ownership and rental creating workplace housing support the redevelopment of housing stock in the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods ensure housing is safe encourage building codes to reflect the historical nature of the community encourage form-based code adoption for all uses encourage mixed-use buildings codes that are easy to achieve discourage use of suburban planning standards for downtowns, i.e. eliminate parking requirements Capture the heritage, historical significance and character of the community by: create a ‘theme’ of the downtown easily understand theme defines the customer experience make improvements in the downtown that complement the theme.
Establish business improvement district to: serve as the ‘keeper of the flame’ for the downtown revitalization create a vehicle to increase dedicated funding for: keeping the downtown clean and well maintained increasing the public perception of safety participate in events and activities in the downtown financially support beautification projects funded by additional tax levy within district
Create urban entertainment district that will: build on the success of the City Theatre support programing of the City Theatre encourage policies that will support night life support creative arts investments encourage restaurant investment encourage specialty retail support creation of museum with emphasis on mill history encourage festivals
2017 Strategic Plan
Page | 1
Our Downtown: Heartbeat of Biddeford Improve or bring new facilities into the downtown including: a significant children’s play area a dog park public restrooms create a year round farmers market support it with a permanent home and structure make it a destination Showcase historical significant canal and tunnel system as part of the downtown experience and draw
Change focus on infrastructure improvements from vehicular to pedestrian use the pedestrian point of view in design and redesign projects in downtown connect Riverwalk with other pedestrian ways that together make an integrated pedestrian system review streets and consider permanently closing them to create pedestrian mall create ongoing events that utilize Main St completely requiring that section to be closed Create strategy to capture more discretionary spending that occurs within the region
Build 1st class Riverwalk complete conceptual layout to include: mechanics park to eastern trail via diamond match property include another pedestrian bridge to saco island proceed with significant portion of project at one time to afford the benefits design a complete pedestrian system that is built with same streetscape design and feel throughout the downtown using the Riverwalk for access points to the river for recreation to be used by residents and visitors Seek alternative transportations opportunities in the downtown by: continue efforts to make downtown bicycle friendly seek multi-modal transportation center in or very near to the downtown that includes: bus service to Portland, Boston, New York and other locations better connections to Amtrak station in Saco or a relocation that serves the downtown better it is center of the local bus service can adequately serve as a primary location for the local shuttle bus creates an easier way for buses and bus tours to use the downtown increase information about public transportation to encourage greater utilization Create and fund a façade grant program for store fronts Create and fund incubator space for business start ups
2017 Strategic Plan
Page | 2
Our Downtown: Heartbeat of Biddeford Expand the downtown beyond a linear downtown by: utilizing pedestrian connections to other sections of downtown seek to close some streets feeding Main St to create pedestrian plazas expand programs to encourage development on the adjacent streets to Main St such as: façade grant program form based zoning reduction in parking requirements Identify gateways to the community and the specifically in the downtown create a formal gateway design to notify visitors that you have entered the downtown rehab 15elm st building Create specific identities for adjacent neighborhoods to the downtown Create parking system to enhance downtown area Identify the total need for parking at full build out of downtown and preliminary locations to create parking for that need eliminate free parking for downtown eliminate or greatly reduce the current general property taxation support for parking by going to user base system construct parking structure(s) connect parking structures with the pedestrian walkways complimentary to the Riverwalk design Create a marketing plan for the downtown area establish a specific theme and logo to help identify it as a destination utilize the business improvement district to serve as the agency to determine the details Find a mixed use for 3 Lincoln street property statement building to be part of the gateway into community
2017 Strategic Plan
Page | 3
