Residents’ downtown ideas wanted

    A public workshop will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Caribou High School to solicit comment on a downtown revitalization plan.     The workshop will engage Caribou residents, business owners and property owners in the current effort. The city developed a downtown revitalization plan in 2000, and has since been working diligently to secure funding to implement that plan. Now, a new revitalization plan is needed to encompass the entire 267-acre downtown development Tax Increment Financing, TIF, district, to set new priorities, infuse new ideas and open up opportunities for additional state and federal funding.
    Included in the plan are the downtown mall area and Sweden Street. The new plan will address improvements on Hatch Drive, Herschel Street, Water Street and portions of Main Street, High Street and Bennett Drive. Improvements in this entire area will be discussed, such as street trees and landscaping, lighting, pedestrian amenities, traffic signage “way-finding”, gateways to the downtown and plans for road improvements.
    The workshop will be facilitated by Kent Associates and Wright-Pierce, who have been hired to complete the plan. The agenda includes a presentation of issues and ideas, followed by discussion, questions and feedback.The plan is funded in part through a State of Maine CDBG Community Planning Grant.