By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

From behind the dusty windows of 265 Main St., DavidFlood can see the potential for revitalizing Biddeford’s downtown district.

Flood and business partner Caleb Johnson recentlypurchased the empty former furniture store with hopes of renovating the 1900building into a mixed-use space for artists.

The goal of their new company, Thread – a nod toBiddeford’s textile past – is to buy, develop and find tenants for languishingproperties.

But before downtown Biddeford can continue to growand thrive, it needs a marketing strategy and collaborative efforts betweenproperty owners to sell it as a place that will lure visitors and attractinvestments, say Flood and city leaders.

Daniel Stevenson, the city’s new director of economicand community development, sees the same potential in Main Street he saw 10years ago when he worked here as a city planner.

“Ten years ago you still had some vacancies in thedowntown, you still had mills with some issues,” he said. “There may be somenew uses, but at the same time there are businesses here that you stillrecognize.”

Stevenson said the biggest change in the past 10years is the “significant loss” of Reny’s department store and the renovationof previously empty or underused mill buildings. Mainstays – like Reilly’sBakery, WonderBar and financial institutions, among others – help anchor thedowntown and continue to attract locals, he said.

When Stevenson looks out his city hall window ontoMain Street, he also sees potential in the empty storefronts. The city does notkeep track of downtown vacancies, but he said he is considering how toinventory all empty spaces and their rental rates. There currently are 10 MainStreet street-level properties with “for rent” signs or that appear to beempty.

An inventory of vacancies will allow the city toestablish a baseline before tracking growth in terms of investment and jobs,Stevenson said.

“Pragmatically, it does take time and effort tomanage that on an ongoing basis,” he said. “But we want to be able to measurethat growth.”

Stevenson said he is working closely with Heart ofBiddeford Executive Director Zeke Callanan to develop a strategy to not onlytrack vacancies but continue to market downtown Biddeford as a place to visitand invest.

“A healthy downtown is the lifeblood of a community,”Stevenson said.

A “cohesive” marketing strategy needs to be developedas part of Main Street’s redevelopment strategy – and that plan needs to workin concert with mill redevelopment strategies, Stevenson said. A plan wouldalso help dispel negative perceptions of the area, including a perceived lackof parking, he said.

“It will bring people to the downtown, it willcontinue to show what Biddeford offers as well as what’s offered regionally.Biddeford is open for business. It’s an exciting place to be,” Stevenson said.“Take a drive down. It’s a proud city rising where the water falls. Park yourcar, get out and walk around.”

Callanan, who joined Heart of Biddeford late last year, said communityinvolvement is essential to support a vibrant downtown. The organization’s goalis to promote downtown Biddeford as a destination.

“We try to show the rest of Maine that we do have avibrant downtown. Stuff goes on here,” Callanan said.

Callanan said it is important for a “tightly knitgroup of people who want to see a prosperous downtown” to work together toattract visitors and investors. Collaboration is already seen at monthly DonutClub meetings where local business owners gather to discuss ideas and offersupport, he said.

The Heart of Biddeford is preparing to survey peoplewho work downtown to see what they need and want in the district. Through theHeartWorks project, the organization is collecting input from residents toproduce a community-driven master plan for the downtown district.

Callanan said he encourages everyone to write to himand share ideas for downtown.

“The people of Biddeford really, really care aboutthis downtown,” he said. “We’re building this town together.”

Brian Keely is uniquely positioned as the manager of a downtownbusiness and chairman of the city’s Downtown Development Commission. His familyhas owned the WonderBar since 1993, but the restaurant’s history stretches backto the 1950s. The business is able to stay successful because of perseverance,he said. Plus, they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“It’s a sense of community downtown,” he said. “Weknow everybody and everybody knows us.”

Keely and other commission members – some of whom owndowntown businesses – work to promote the area and reach out to businessesconsidering relocating to the area.

“We try to promote what’s here,” he said.

The commission will begin working more closely withCallanan and the Heart of Biddeford on various projects, including installingbicycle racks and encouraging people to shop local, Keely said. He said thecommission has discussed teaming up with the Heart of Biddeford and citydevelopment office to create a welcome package for new businesses to offersupport and guidance through permitting and licensing processes.

“I’ve heard stories of businesses who said they weregoing to come here but didn’t because they thought the process was too hard ortoo slow,” Keely said. “(The city) should be bending over backwards to make iteasy for new business to come. Somebody needs to be there to answer questions.That should be the priority.”

While walking through his new Main Street building lastweek, Flood discussed how he and Johnson, a local architect, will use thespace. They bought the three-story building for $275,000 and are in the midstof developing plans to use the first floor for retail, the second floor forartist studios and the third floor for live-and-work studios.

Flood said he and his partner will actively pursuetenants for the building to attract uses that complement each other. Their goalis to have final plans for the building’s renovation complete by the end of themonth so tenants can begin moving in this summer.

“We’ll try to do stuff that will be complementary toexisting businesses and help build a stronger downtown,” he said. “The moregood businesses you have the easier it is to attract other good businesseshere.”

The building will be fairly easy to revitalizebecause it is in relatively good condition and has no major structural issues,Flood said. He said Johnson was attracted to the building because of itsarchitecture and open spaces. There are solid wood floors and tin ceilingsthroughout the building. Large first floor windows afford a sweeping view ofMcArthur Library across the street.

Renovating the building likely will cost up toseveral thousand dollars, which Flood and Johnson will offset using historictax credits.

An essential part of their revitalization effortsinclude pricing units at rental rates the market can support, Flood said.Rental rates will range from $200 per month for an artist studio to $1,500 forthe largest street-level space.

Even as they work to finalize revitalization plansfor 265 Main St., Flood and Johnson are eyeing other downtown properties asinvestment opportunities.

“I think it’s a shame this building isn’t beingused,” Flood said. “We’re hoping a year from now this place is full and we havelots of wonderful people in it.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham may be reached at282-4337, ext. 213, or news@inthecourier.com.