As members of the Colby-Waterville community, we wanted to do more than an academic analysis of the Waterville Revitalization project. Using our interviews, research and case studies, we developed some action steps that, if implemented, would make the revitalization the project the best it can be! These are not easy steps, and both Colby and Waterville community members will need to be actively involved for these steps to be actualized.
Colby -Waterville Collaboration:
- Relocating the Waterville Farmers’ Market: Colby must take responsibility for ensuring a centrally located Farmers’ Market that is located within walking distance of the South End.
- One main concern related to the downtown dorm is the fate of the vibrant Waterville Farmers’ Market. Since Colby plans to convert the current location of the Farmers’ Market, and they have caused the disturbance, they must be responsible for finding an alternative location.
- Concert/Cultural Opportunities: Free and centrally located concerts or other cultural events can connect Colby students and the greater Waterville Community.
- Concerts and shared cultural events can build a sense of cohesion between the Colby community and the Waterville community. This is especially important to overcome intergenerational divides, as all ages would be able to enjoy these events together.
- Research: Colby should offer research expertise to study the complex problems facing Waterville.
- Colby has fantastic minds that can be put to work thinking about some of these complex gentrification problems. Bates College, in Lewiston, ME encourages professors to work on community issues through the Center for Community Partnerships. Colby should adopt a similar research collaboration so that Colby might use its educational wealth to partner with Waterville on complex issues.
Economic Consequences:
- Communication: Despite Colby’s efforts to be transparent, we were met with some confusion in the community regarding the revitalization efforts.
- This could be achieved through more accessible public forums and spaces to provide honest feedback directly from the community’s members.
- Parking: One of the biggest concerns the local community had was the public parking situation.
- Due to the lack of available parking spaces on Main Street, an underground parking garage or a separate parking structure near Main Street could be built for students and local community members.
- Affordable Housing: After investigating the Hyde Park development project, we anticipate similar problems arising in Waterville and propose that the partners are more mindful of these ramifications.
- To best maintain affordable housing options for Waterville residents, the City should provide tax incentives to developers building such living spaces. In addition, other partners that could be involved in this revitalization project are local nonprofits like the Community Land Trust that provide affordable housing.
- Businesses: A major concern is the arrival of new larger chains potentially driving out smaller local businesses.
- Colby must be mindful of the needs of Waterville community members. Each group will demand different types of businesses because of the contrasting economic backgrounds between Waterville and Colby community members.
- Incoming businesses should cater to the needs of Waterville residents.
- Business Security
- Best Practices: Extensive literature on town-gown relationships and revitalization projects suggest a number of best practices to be followed to ensure successful collaboration. The following articles offer guidance we suggest Colby College adhere to.
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