Various projects are underway which stemmed directly from the Downtown Master Plan which was completed in 2011, including the Main Street Challenge, increased visibility for cultural events, storefront redesign projects, and more. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay abreast of those initiatives.

We have begun Phase II of the Heart & Soul Master Planning Project! This phase will consist of six workshops that will address the seven priorities gleaned from the Phase I Neighborhood Meetings and Storytelling Exercises. Find the schedule of workshops here. Two workshops have already taken place, the Safety Workshop and the Youth Involvement Workshop.

We welcome your involvement in these 4 remaining workshops, your input is welcome and important.

A Community Forum will be held on March 14 at 4pm (location TBD) to verify that what we’ve heard to-date, your input, is on target to be incorporated into the Master Plan.

Greetings!

On behalf of the Heart of Biddeford HeartWorks master planning effort and the greater Biddeford community at large, I would like to say thank you for your continued and sustained interest in improving the wonderful and potential-rich City of Biddeford. The intent of this Blog post is to update all interested on where current efforts are at, as well as to explain how current energy is being spent.

The Steering Committee (the group that has been driving this ship since its inception) and the Advisory Council (the body that was created through the Request for Proposal process to oversee the implementation of the Plan) merged and now meet as one Advisory Council.  The meetings have been underway for the past several months, and will continue to take place with the aim of addressing and tackling issues identified as critical to the success of our downtown.  Here’s a list of those involved, and a summary of what’s happened to date:

Regular participants include:
Andy Michaud, Ann Thompson, Aurelie Wallach,  Carolyn Gosselin, Dan DuCharme, David Flood, Dora St. Martin, Holli Andrews, Jennifer Boislard, Josephine Power, Patricia Boston, Patrick Venne, Zeke Callanan, and Mark Eyerman.

Other members of the committee include:
John Bubier, Bob Mills, Mark Nahorney, Carl Walsh, and Matt Hight.

Associate members include:
Daniel Stevenson and Greg Tansley

If we have neglected to mention any participant, we apologize; however, but the foregoing list should represent most of the continuous participants fairly well.

Here’s what we have been up to in the past several months:

Phase I & II of the Downtown Biddeford master planning effort are complete.

Phase I was Story Telling and Story Gathering, where Biddeford’s Values were uncovered.  Here they are:

Phase II was the Neighborhood Meetings and the Community Forum, which consisted largely of the assimilation of public input.  Through the Neighborhood Meetings, 7 key Issues were identified, including (1) Safety, (2) Attractiveness, (3) Increasing Activity, (4) Embracing and Engaging Youth, (5) Creating a Vibrant Business Environment, (6) Improving Infrastructure, and (7) Conserving Natural Resources.

Phase III, which we are currently in, consists of devising the master plan itself.   Creation of this document, planned and desired to be a “living” and flexible one, is slated to be completed by April 2011.

The Advisory Council, guided by Project Manager Zeke Callanan (HOB Executive Director) and Planning Consultant Mark Eyerman of Planning Decisions, Inc., with the assistance of Interns Holli Andrews and Patrick Venne from the Muskie School, will reach a final plan through the following activities:

(A.) Establishing a baseline community evaluation consisting of what resources we have at our disposal, what is working, what isn’t, and what could or should be in the future.  This is accomplished through community input and baseline analyses.

(B.) In-depth dialogue and deliberation in order to synthesize public input so as to produce a workable approach toward organization of future efforts.

(C.) WorkShops regarding the issues of promoting responsible development, local economic development, social capital, conservation and preservation–all as influenced and guided by the values discerned through public outreach and participation. This part of the process specifically is an integral component of the planning process, and largely characterizes most current efforts.

As we move forward with Advisory Council meetings, here’s how we have approached things and what we have and will continue to focus on:

Since these issues were identified, the Advisory Council has been engaged in a process of determining whether and to what extent they recognize and encompass issues essential to the master planning process.

To that end, the following seven (7) WorkShops will address the identified issues in depth, each focusing on one issue.   The first such WorkShop is planned for this Friday, November 5, 2010, and will address the issue of “public safety.” Advisory Council members have been asked to identify and bring key members of the local community and City Staff to this meeting in order to actively engage all parties without whom the topic of public safety downtown would be addressed in vain.

The intent of this WorkShop is to work constructively toward devising means for achieving key objectives as regards improving the perception as well as the reality of public safety in our downtown. We are beginning to turn what have thus far been identified as “values” in our community into more concrete and discernible “actions” aimed at achieving and securing those values.

This is an exciting time for the Downtown Biddeford master planning process, and for Downtown Biddeford in general. Please stay tuned for more updates on this blog as this effort continues to build momentum and move ever closer to our goal of strengthening and enhancing the downtown. Thanks for reading.

Sincerely,
HeartWorks Staff

We, at the Heart of Biddeford, would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your incredible efforts on behalf of the HeartWorks Downtown Master Plan Project and Community Forum this past July 15th! Over 100 of Biddeford’s friends and residents attended this gathering despite sweltering summer heat, to stake a course for the future of our historic downtown. The range of ideas for developing an all inclusive, healthy, welcoming and safe Main Street community that truly defines the heart & soul of Biddeford was innovative and astounding! In true Biddeford form — everyone thought of each soul that lives and breathes in our city, and how important it is to never forget a single one as we begin making decisions that will shape the future of downtown. What a night it was!

Thank you to all of you who were able to come! Your presence made for the most productive effort toward our master plan yet — you celebrated and validated the values that emerged during our storytelling phase, and you helped us prioritize the ideas and issues we learned from you at 35 neighborhood meetings spread throughout the city from corner to corner. You added things that were missing from the list that were important to you — and you made sure to think of those whose voice is not always heard or organized. You made your case on behalf of our natural resources — and you struggled over the best possible vision for the future. Your work will help us make Downtown Biddeford a product of its citizens, and not a casualty of sprawl.

Thank you to all of the people who tirelessly helped put the night together! The decorations, the food, the tables, the facility — the building up and the breaking down. All of you worked so hard and up to the very last second and beyond! To our wonderful facilitators, and to Ariana and interns from Orton, Sue from Everyday Democracy, Mark and Terry from Planning Decisions, Dora from the library, Carolyn from the high school and her students, Jen and the Art Van behind the barbeque, Doug’s North Dam Mill, and all of the local non-profits at their booths — you made the night happen. We could not have done it without you.

As we move forward to craft this important master plan and vision, we will keep you all in the loop at every step of the way. Some of you signed on to help with specific issues to address with the master plan, and for you we will provide networking information to connect you with people who have the same interests, some great skills and strengths to lend in the effort, and some groups in Biddeford geared toward making a difference on these issues. Any of you who feel compelled to join a network, help in any way, or attend advisory council meetings, feel free to contact our office at Heart of Biddeford, or visit our website at www.heartofbiddeford.org (click on Heartworks Project) for more information.

Again, congratulations to each and every one of you on this wonderful achievement! Imagine where we will be in 5 or 10 years… hopefully meeting each other on the sidewalks of downtown, brimming with pride at our dreams realized!

Greatness, indeed.

We are so excited about this forum!!!  It has been a long time coming… people all over Biddeford have been telling stories about the heart & soul of downtown and going to neighborhood meetings to talk about their hopes and wishes for the future!  We started this process in 2008, and hundreds of people have put their ideas and dreams onto the table.  Our latest endeavor included 31 neighborhood meetings attended by over 300 Biddeford people… on their own turf!!!  Results from our city-wide interviews, high school digital stories (Carolyn Gosselin — teacher extraordinaire and innovator of place-based education!) and neighborhood meetings are providing the foundation for our Community Forum!  Please please come — one and all…. dinner and childcare provided.  We need you!

Everyone!  We encourage you to lend your voice to the collective!

• Learn about what’s happening on Main Street… Who’s here?  What’s here?
• Hear what others are saying!  Stories, values, ideas.
• Create a vision for the future.
• Set priorities for action.
• Enjoy a night out downtown!

The first hour will be an open house with dinner provided, and there will be childcare on the premises (– no need to open your wallet for supper or a baby sitter)!  The remaining 3 hours will be an inspiring opportunity to create a plan for our downtown.  Every age is important, every voice, everyone.  Hope to see you there!

Would you buy computer and printer supplies if a local store offered them?  Wouldn’t it be great to just pop into a shop downtown and grab a ream of paper or some ink for the old printer? Here’s the deal…. yes. The big box has the supplies and probably a little cheaper because they can buy in huge bulk.  But…put a price tag on your time,…is it still cheaper?

Reply to this post and tell us what you constantly have to go out of town for! We, of course, would love it if we could have everything right here for you, Downtown Biddeford.

“That’s all, she wrote,” was Coco’s farewell to her store space (where Art Mart is now located) … but don’t despair, dear anvil fans! You can still get Coco’s gorgeous jewelry at http://www.etsy.com/shop/hogfarmstudios. Coco & Gil remain the ever-faithful downtown fixtures with their wonderful listening room, HFS Annex. To find out what’s playing go to http://www.hogfarmstudios.com/home.html and get the lowdown on some amazing shows no to be missed!

Wahoo! The Art Mart is staying in Biddeford, oh yeah, by popular demand.   If you haven’t gone in yet, take a step on the wild side and try something new!  Aw, just get yourself in there…  Russ is fab and so are the art supplies!

The new Art Mart can be found on Washington Street, next to the Wonder Bar — just a hop skip & a jump from Main Street, people!

We be lovin’ the Art Mart for hanging tough with our Main Street community!