By Ellen W. Todd Sanford News Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011

SANFORD — Fran Libbey's office is right in the heart of downtown Sanford, but despite its prime location, the only windows in the basement office are windows of the past — photographs of Sanford's past.

The framed photos show Sanford in its heyday, Main Street bustling with people and cars from another era, shops lining the street, even a downtown hotel. A photograph on the wall behind Libbey's desk shows a parade on Main Street. In the foreground, Libbey, who appears to be about 5 years old, is looking directly at the camera as she stands at the side of the street with her family.

Fran Libbey is the executive director of Sanford Downtown Legacy, a nonprofit organization formed in 2007 to revitalize downtown Sanford and preserve its heritage. In 2009 the organization was successful in its effort to have Sanford designated a "Main Street Maine" community by the Maine Development Foundation's Maine Downtown Center. Sanford is one of just nine "Main Street Maine" communities.

As a life-long resident of Sanford and former employee of the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce, Libbey is a Sanford "booster" and is particularly excited about the current downtown revitalization efforts.

"I would like to see it vibrant again," she said during a recent interview.

Libbey remembered that "as a kid" she could walk down Main Street, get a bite to eat at a local restaurant and buy whatever she needed in the shops along Main Street.

Libbey credits the seven years she worked at the Chamber of Commerce with helping to spark her interest in downtown revitalization. (Her job there was eliminated at the end of 2009 due to budget cuts.)

While working at the Chamber of Commerce in 2003, Libbey attended a "Main Street Maine" conference in Saco. She returned home so excited and enthusiastic about what she had heard, that her husband told her, "If Sanford ever becomes a Main Street community, you've got to apply for that job."

As Sanford Downtown Legacy's executive director, Libbey is the public face of the organization and will work with the board of directors and committees to promote the downtown, to develop strategies for downtown economic development and to coordinate the activities of the program committee — activities like "Summah Daze" and "Holly Daze" as well as new events.

Among her responsibilities are working with members, and recruiting new members and volunteers to help implement ideas and programs.

"There are a lot of great ideas out there, but we need the manpower and the finances to accomplish them," Libbey said.

Sanford Downtown Legacy is following the "Main Street" model of downtown revitalization developed by the National Trust for Historic Renovation. It's a model that is suited to older communities with historic downtowns and is a "four-point approach," which seeks to build cooperation among the groups and people who have an interest in the downtown, enhance the appearance of the downtown area, promote and market the unique characteristics of the downtown, and strengthen the economic base of the downtown area.

"It's a little bit of the Chamber of Commerce, a bit of a block party/neighborhood organization kind of program and part beautification program," Libbey told the town council at a recent meeting.

The approach has been adopted by more than 2,000 communities nationwide.

In Maine there are nine Main Street Maine communities and 13 Maine Downtown Network communities, representing every county in Maine.

In addition to the downtown events that have been celebrated for several years, like "Summah Daze" and "Holly Daze," Libbey is currently planning some new events, including "A Night of Magic" next month. She is planning to arrange to have a magician to entertain kids, perhaps a palm reader, and is asking businesses to stay open a little later and offer special deals between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Libbey said she is currently looking for volunteers to help out on some of the committees, particularly the organization and promotion committees, which focus on fundraising and special events. There are also opportunities for volunteers who are interested in working on economic restructuring — bringing in new business — and historic preservation.

"The more people involved, the more avenues you have," Libbey said.

"Sanford is a wonderful community and can be vibrant and thriving with a little imagination and a lot of hard work. I am ready for that, but we will need lots of help," Libbey wrote in Town Manager Mark Green's newsletter following her appointment to the Sanford Downtown Legacy position in March.

"When people drive through town, I want them to say, 'What a great town! I'd love to live here. I'd love to have a business here,'" she said in the interview with the Sanford News.

"We have a beautiful downtown, we just have to believe in it,"

The Sanford Downtown Legacy's office is located below Garnsey's Insurance and its entrance is to the left of the Garnsey building.