Gardiner Characteristics
Physical
Characteristics
Downtown
Gardiner is located along the Kennebec River and is intersected by Cobbossee
Stream. Both provide natural beauty and
significant open space area.
Gardiner
is within reasonable commuting distance of major employment centers (Augusta,
Bath, Portland), yet far enough away that it is a service center for the
surrounding area. Over 30,000 vehicles
pass through downtown Gardiner on any given day.
The
Maine Central Rail line runs along the waterfront and will play a significant
role in the City’s ongoing downtown redevelopment efforts. There are 47 architecturally significant
buildings in the Gardiner Historic District, which lies along both sides of
Water Street. This Historic District
includes a rail station on the National Historic Register, Johnson Hall (also
on the National Historic Register) and a 400-seat performing arts center.
Downtown
Revitalization Highlights
In
1999 the City completed a Downtown Revitalization Plan and is currently
executing it.
In
2001 Gardiner received $400,000 CDBG downtown revitalization grant which, in
public/private partnerships, will be used to improve downtown buildings,
establish a façade grant program, reconstruct a parking lot and public area
along Cobbossee Stream, and create a vehicular and pedestrian connection
between East Water Street and the waterfront. In 2001, the City also received a
Smart Growth Challenge Grant to evaluate engineering solutions for access to
upper floors of downtown buildings.
Gardiner’s
waterfront offers exciting new developments and the city is committed to
improving public space. The Gardiner Rotary has purchased a key waterfront
parcel. The City has been awarded Land
for Maine’s Future Funds to purchase it and to develop 3,000 feet of trails on
the property and on adjacent state-owned land, which the City now leases. The
City is currently working with a private company (who presently wishes to remain
anonymous) to design and construct a skate park for the children of the
community.
Gardiner
is also showing that citizen participation is part of a vital downtown. The
Greater Gardiner Boys & Girls Club of America just moved into the 1911
Railroad Station and will service youth programs for children from Gardiner and
the surrounding communities. This will
bring many more people into downtown.
Recently
the City secured $500,000 from the USDA for capitalization of the City
Revolving Loan Fund. The fund is now
valued at over $750,000. These funds
are specifically targeted for downtown projects that are high risk and/or have
proved cost prohibitive.
Finally,
the City of Gardiner has coined the concept of the “Smart Downtown” and is
presently fleshing the idea out with the Economic Development Administration,
The State of Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and
Verizon.
