Staff Writer
The City of Caribou has taken a strong lead position in becoming a government service center, which can be a building block for further development. That was one of several thoughts voiced last week during the first public meeting of a local government group wanting to bring new energy into the city’s business districts.
Caribou is already home to the Aroostook County Commissioners’ offices and the Superior Court clerks’ offices. The city is in a strong position to build on that vision, according to Amanda Walker of Kent Associates, one of the consultants hired for the project.
The session on the revamp project drew about a dozen people, representing City Council members, municipal staff and the paid consultants last Wednesday.
For two and one-half hours, the group discussed the possibilities for change in the study area.
Almost 270 acres are targeted for potential redevelopment, including the shopping areas o Sweden Street, High Street, Bennett Drive and a portion of Route 1.
The current effort is an expansion of the revitalization plan implemented in 2000. During that program, the Sweden Street area received $1 million of improvements, including dismantling the roof over the walking area of the downtown mall.
New mall lighting was put in and brick sidewalks were installed. Trees were also planted.
Discussion of adding “green” to the various target areas was part of the work during the meeting.
The participants were divided into two groups to complete a questionnaire which asked for opinions on installing benches, planting trees, adding planters and other types of amenities that would spruce up the study area.
“Some of the spaces are a little bleak,” said Walker.
During the presentation, Walker showed slides of how such additions improved other municipalities’ downtowns.
The two groups also discussed the potential for making Sweden and Record Streets two-way roadways. In addition, installing a third lane for turning on High Street was discussed.
When the two groups reconvened into the general gathering, they appeared to disagree on the major points.
James Cyr spoke for the first group, which advocated better signage for the targeted district, rather than spend money on items such as changing traffic patterns and installing turning lanes.
“People have gotten used to the traffic patterns,” said Cyr. “It (possible changes) sound like a solution in search of a problem.”
Cyr said that there are many “little” things that can be done that don’t cost a lot of money, but can make a difference. One such idea was creating a “community green” on High Street in front of the local Fire and Ambulance Department building.
Cyr’s group was in favor of more trail access to areas such as Collins Pond recreational area.
In contrast, the other group didn‘t support increased access to Collins Pond, but did like the ideas of improving landscaping and parking lots in the Sweden Street area, according to Jan Murchison, that group’s spokesperson.
The group also supported making the one-way streets into two-way avenues, Murchison said. One novel idea suggested by the group was painting a mural on the retaining wall in the downtown mall parking area.
In a related topic, Rob Kieffer, a member of the revitalization committee, said that business owners on South Maine Street need to be encouraged to part of the process.
“They don’t think they’re part of it,” said Kieffer.
Comment taken from the meeting will be collected and used in a report to solicit more public comment during another meeting in January, according to local officials.
