Collaboration key in downtown revitalization
Photo/Courtesy City of Bangor
West Market Square in Bangor
This Halloween, three local bar/restaurants worked together to bring Cumulus Radio to Bangor's downtown square for a festive, costume contest finale, capping each of the three businesses' own in-house costume contests. Within three weeks, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be taking up residence in a downtown storefront.
Both events are part of Bangor Center Corp.'s stepped-up efforts to market and improve the downtown area, part of the nonprofit's mission since it was founded in 1987. That's something Shirar Patterson, the city's newly hired economic development officer/downtown coordinator and staff liaison to the Bangor Center Corp., says she hopes will only continue to grow.
"Now we're focused more on actually marketing, planning, and encouraging growth of business and residential opportunities in the area," says Patterson. "In the past, our efforts were more event related. Now we're looking at events, but also the area overall."
The Bangor Center Corp. promotes and markets activities that enhance the distinctive identity of downtown Bangor, which encourages retention and growth of commercial, residential and cultural life within the downtown district. A board of directors of downtown business owners and residents spearheads the corporation. One city councilor also is appointed to serve on the corporation board.
"They're on the street every day, so they can provide some great guidance," Patterson says.
The corporation is supported through taxes paid by downtown property and business owners. A 53-cent per $1,000 of property valuation tax is added to their property tax bills, which the city then appropriates to Bangor Center Corp.
Prior to beginning her new position, Patterson served as program director for the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. The position with the city was vacant for nine months due to a hiring freeze, so Patterson has some work ahead of her. "I'm hitting the ground running," she says.
With more than 25 owner-operated restaurants, the Maine Discovery Museum, Penobscot Theatre Co., and a host of artists in the downtown area, there's always something going on. "There's so much more to the downtown area than just shopping," says Patterson.
And she notes that many businesses - even those you think would be competing with each other - are beginning to work together more to draw crowds to the downtown district, such as the Halloween costume contest hosts.
Part of taking the downtown district to the next level is filling some of the vacant storefronts, says Patterson. Part of her job is to work with property owners looking to rent, lease or sell their buildings, acting as a liaison between those with property and those seeking space. "The more we can work together, the more we're going to see growth and success downtown," she says.
The Bangor Center Corp. already has begun marketing for the holiday season, looking at promoting a broader downtown experience beyond just shopping, says Patterson. It also is providing a way to showcase some of the available spaces. For example, plans for Santa and Mrs. Claus to move into a vacant storefront following Thanksgiving until Christmas is a way to use that space and give the property some exposure.
Having studied plans for other successful downtowns, Patterson is also looking to the local art community to see if artists can fill empty storefronts with their work.
"I think [business owners] are recognizing the power of collaboration," Patterson says. "People here want to see [downtown] go to the next level. They all have their unique identity and they're all in the same boat."
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