Downtown revitalization and development are at the heart of the resurgence of some central Maine cities.
Get Instant Access to This Article
Subscribe to Mainebiz and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
- Critical Maine business news updated daily.
- Immediate access to all subscriber-only content on our website.
- Bi-weekly print or digital editions of our award-winning publication.
- Special bonus issues like the Mainebiz Book of Lists.
- Exclusive ticket prize draws for our in-person events.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
In the past five years, we’ve seen some rapid changes in Maine, particularly in the demand for housing and the skyrocketing cost of buying or renting a home.
Augusta has not always been part of that discussion. But, in our cover story, Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber shows that the state capital does, in fact, have some development momentum. Mixed-use construction, downtown conversions and hundreds of residential units are in the works, as she reports.
“Augusta has done a great job working with developers and owners to make the downtown a more open place for development,” says one entrepreneur. “When you go to downtown Augusta, you’ll see a lot more restaurants, apartments and local shops that weren’t around five years ago.”
See Laurie’s story:
Capital development: Augusta pipeline spans mixed-use builds to hundreds of residential units
At a time when there’s a lot of conflict in the world, it’s nice to know there are some places in Maine where the community has your back.
Hallowell, just six miles from the state capital, is one such place.
Staff Writer Tina Fischer spent time in the city of 2,600 people. She found a place with some of the same challenges faced in many other northern New England spots — including a need for affordable housing and the urgency of dealing with water-quality issues created by PFAS — but also a thriving downtown and some community members committed to building on the quality of life there.
“Hallowell is an amazing town full of artistic, social people who like to contribute to the community,” one downtown business owner tells Mainebiz. “Everyone always pitches in.”
See Tina’s story:
Hallowell thrives while tackling housing, water issues
