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V O L . X X V I I N O. X I I J U N E 1 4 , 2 0 2 1 20 L E W I S T O N / A U B U R N / W E S T E R N M A I N E While Wilbur's endeavor is much smaller than the big transformations that have breathed life into the mill buildings that make Lewiston unique, it's indica- tive of growing interest in Riverfront Island as the need for housing grows. "I definitely took a risk on the fringe of Lewiston though still very much in the walkable downtown area," says Wilbur, an urban planner and designer- turned-developer who lives in nearby Livermore. "Lewiston is one of Maine's most beautiful cities and has some of the best historic architecture to work from and a ton of potential that's completely under the radar … It's an incredibly untapped market." at may not be the case for long as the Riverfront Island renaissance gath- ers pace, attracting developers rooted in Lewiston as well as newcomers like Wilbur. Down the street from 188 Lincoln Street, Jim Brady of Portland- based Fathom Cos. is embarking on his first Lewiston venture, a residential project in a historic building he bought in December. Encouraged by Wilbur's success, Brady says, "She did a nice job with quality finishes and charged a rate nobody in the market thought she could get and got tenants immediately. We're planning to be a level above her, but to me it showed that people are willing to pay to be in that location." 'Sucking the air' back Why so much interest in Riverfront Island? Lincoln Jeffers, Lewiston's director of economic and community development, attributes the appeal to several factors. "Lewiston has a wonderful historic fabric and most developers I have worked with want to capitalize on and build upon those assets." He also says a recent $30 million federal grant awarded to Lewiston to make improvements in the 28-block Tree Streets neighborhood raises the city's overall profile with developers. In assessing individual projects in the pipeline, Jeffers says the city considers the return on investment, calculating that $60 million in private development money over the past 20 years has brought in an additional $680,000 in annual taxes. Of the $60 million invested, close to $45 million has gone into mills, complemented by $13.9 million in public money for parks, parking and canal clearing. But Jeffers notes that the city's return isn't just about the tax base, saying, "It can be job creation, services provided or community enhance- ment." He adds that progressive city zoning preserves the community's his- toric fabric and walkability and allows for a broad range of uses, especially F O C U S P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y L E W I S T O N F I R E D E PA R T M E N T P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Once you have the talent, you need to make sure they have an affordable and quality place to live … It's nice to see investments happening that will enable that. — Danielle Snow Grand Rounds Developer Kara Wilbur saved a vacant firehouse from demolition into a mixed-used building with two second-floor apartments in a $1.2 million project funded in part with historic tax credits. L ewiston is a former mill town with new momentum for residential development. It's all happen- ing on Riverfront Island, where Kara Wilbur saved an abandoned firehouse from demolition in 2017, then embarked on a $1.2 million revamp financed with $450,000 in historic tax credits, grants and loans from the city, a commercial bank loan and cash out of her own pocket. e result: A mixed-use building with two modern second-floor apart- ments that were immediately snapped up, above ground-floor space she hopes to fill as the economy opens up. e building, now known as 188 Lincoln Street, marks the start of a new development chapter for Maine's sec- ond-largest city, more than two decades after the "Riverfront Island Master Plan" laid out a vision for turning Lewiston's riverfront into the region's great urban destination. e 70-acre island is bor- dered by the Main Canal on the east, the Androscoggin River on the west and north and Cedar Street on the south. MOMENTUM Residential development heats up on Lewiston's Riverfront Island B y R e n e e C o r d e s Mill town

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