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Downtown Revival on Agenda in Gray

October 15, 2008 - GRAY — The worn facades and run-down storefronts of the Clark Block, once a signature shopping area in downtown Gray, are being overhauled in hopes of triggering a renaissance in a town that bills itself as "The Crossroads of Commerce."

Town officials have launched a public-private partnership to restore the group of buildings and renovate the former Main Street fire station, which was built in 1837 and once served as the town hall.

"The only thing going in the town of Gray as far as a catalyst or focus are these historical buildings," said Town Planner George Thebarge. "Over the past 20 years, we see these buildings are just going down and down. We're trying to reverse that condition."

The town tried a year ago for an ambitious downtown improvement program funded with community development block grants, but was rejected.

This year, the request was scaled back.

Now the town is spending $135,000 of a Community Development Block Grant to rip out the existing sidewalk and replace it with a brick walkway that is handicapped-accessible. Lines for electricity and other utilities will be buried.

The Town Council also has voted to put up $55,000 from a tax-increment financing district that will be used to match private investment in the three buildings.

The hope is that as this core of downtown buildings is improved, other property owners will follow suit to revitalize downtown and expand the retail opportunities there.

"This isn't going to happen by the town adopting an ordinance," Thebarge said.

Next month, residents will vote on whether to invest $2.4 million to renovate the historic Pennell Institute. The impressive structure once was a school and now houses the Gray Historical Society, but it has fallen into disrepair. If a proposal to convert the former school into a new town hall is approved, the project could dovetail with the revitalization effort.

The three buildings that make up the Clark Block are all owned by people who live outside of Gray. The buildings have struggled, and their owners have been losing money, leaving little for reinvestment, Thebarge said.

Apartments above Goody's Pizzeria in one of the buildings can't be rented because they do not meet fire-safety standards, Thebarge said.

The building at 5 Main St. has just a nail salon in one of its storefronts, a tattoo parlor having moved out this summer.

David Pettigrew, the building's property manager, is now setting up a mill shop in one of the building's units. From there, he will start the painstaking renovations that are the building owner's contribution to the revitalization effort.

"We're going to build an actual millwork shop on site, and everything will be custom-milled, old-school," said Pettigrew, who also owns a construction company in Bridgton. "The building is really unique. It's got a lot of character."

That said, it also needs a lot of work. The building's owner didn't want to invest the money to match the town's grant but was willing, through Pettigrew, to donate the labor necessary to get it done.

The planned renovations include redoing the storefronts on the first level and installing new doors and windows.

"It could absolutely be turned around with some elbow grease, that's for sure," Pettigrew said. "The units are good-size, mostly clean, good appliances. Overall, it's not a bad building."

Pettigrew said simply restoring the historic flavor of downtown won't be enough to draw people there. That will depend on a good mix of shops, which, in turn, depends on foot traffic. His own preference would be for one of the storefronts to become an Internet cafe.

Once the private improvements are complete, probably in early spring, the town will begin work on the sidewalk and utilities, Thebarge said.

By DAVID HENCH, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, October 11, 2008


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