Media
Committee wants to "light up Castine" now and always
Anne Berleant
Date: | November 10th, 2011 |
“It’s about bringing the community together,” said Pat Bishop, chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee’s economic development subcommittee. She was referring to “Light Up Castine,” a series of December events designed to “create a little more bustling environment” over the holiday season, according to an e-mail sent to town merchants in October.
The CPIC and its subcommittee were formed in response to a 2009 report by the Comprehensive Planning Committee detailing the need for economic development and revitalization in Castine.
The CPIC listed its economic goals in September 2011 as assisting area businesses; developing new businesses; developing the town’s marine resources (the waterfront), and increasing acreage available for commercial activity.
“Light Up Castine” is one attempt at taking action out of the planning rooms and into the community to fulfill CPIC’s economic goals. “‘Light Up Castine’” for the holidays is just an example of what we intend to do,” Bishop said by e-mail. However, Bishop is well aware that achieving those goals will take more than a string of visits by Santa in December.
“We can volunteer until the cows come home,” Bishop said, but a professional economic development consultant “with the expertise and the vision” is needed to develop a workable economic plan.
Bishop sees the trend of transforming downtown stores into single-family or private-use residences as harmful to economic growth. “I am opposed to converting first-floor commercial [property] to residential,” she wrote by e-mail to clarify her stand on an issue she called “controversial.”
Another means to fulfilling the subcommittee’s goals is for Castine to join the Downtown Network Program, which is funded through the Maine Development Foundation. The town selectmen voted in favor of applying to the program, at a $250 application cost; the subcommittee plans to have its application filed by the end of the year. Bishop cited Belfast and Stonington as towns that have benefited from joining the program. “They’ve kind of put their arms around economic development and are making it work,” she said.
In order to join the DNP, town officials and merchants need to be committed to moving forward. Representatives who visited this summer spoke of attitude as an important part of change, Bishop said.
The DNP offers resources like consulting expertise and workshops designed to help spur economic growth, Bishop said.
While membership in the DNP will help set an agenda, it doesn’t take the place of an economic developer. “We need someone who can put this all together: zoning, downtown revitalization, housing,” said Bishop. “This doesn’t just happen.”
Ideas for the future include using some of the transfer station acreage for an industrial park and developing the waterfront to serve visitors to town, by boat and car, in addition to year-round residents, by having public bathrooms available all year, showers and laundry facilities, and downtown stores that can fill their needs without a trip out of town.
Bishop said she would like to see the town’s Harbor Committee “be proactive.” The town and Maine Maritime Academy both own pieces of the waterfront and need to work together, an issue that has been addressed in the monthly “town and gown” meetings between town and academy officials.
Rhonda Varney, a Sodexo employee who heads up the MMA Conferences Department, is a “very strong participant in the subcommittee,” Bishop said. In addition, MMA President Bill Brennan serves on the CPIC.
In the immediate future, the subcommittee will host a lighting of Main Street trees at 6 p.m. on December 2, followed by a 7 p.m. concert by the town band at Emerson Hall. On Saturday, December 3, the Trinitarian Church on Main Street hosts the Holly Berry Fair from 10 am. to 2 p.m. The Tarratine Gallery will hold an opening that same day from 4 to 6 p.m., with a wine and cheese reception.
The annual lighting of the holiday tree on the town common happens on Monday, December 12, followed by a town band holiday concert at the Unitarian Universalist meeting house at 7 p.m. Santa will make three Saturday appearances in Castine, December 3, 10 and 17, and “merchants will be offering promotions during this festive time,” according to Bishop’s e-mail.
Bishop was quick to point out positive signs of growth in Castine. The 19th Hole Grocery and Danny Murphy are two new year-round businesses that opened in recent months, and SaraSara’s now offers a dry cleaning service. In addition, T&C is building a restaurant attached to its grocery store and expanding its store items.
