RUMFORD – The Congress Street area needs more parking and the Waldo/Cumberland streets district needs more and better housing.
Those were the top priorities drawn from a public survey earlier in the month, followed by more emphasis on improving the downtown business climate and sprucing up the backs of buildings along Congress Street.
The Downtown Revitalization Committee reviewed the survey results Monday night with consultant Brian Kent of Kent Associates of Gardiner.
During the next few weeks, the survey’s results will be analyzed, then recommendations devised for presentation at a public hearing Nov. 2. Once comments are taken at that hearing and integrated with survey results, consultants will put together a plan for revitalizing the town, and Town Manager Steve Eldridge will begin applying for a variety of grants that could put some of the recommendations into action.
Eldridge, chairman of the committee, said Tuesday that residents will likely have a chance to discuss whether Congress Street should be changed to two-way traffic and whether Waldo Street instead of Hancock Street should become Route 2, among many other topics when the public hearing is held.
Other ideas proposed on the survey include: closing a portion of Hartford Street so that a sidewalk cafe could be set up; improving the sidewalks and lighting along River and Canal streets; development of stricter ordinances to cover use of the downtown area; encouragement of greater use of the town’s parks; and more landscaping and other improvements along Waldo Street.
Survey results include concerns about the loss of businesses and vacant storefronts on Congress Street and general concerns about the Waldo Street business environment, and the need for a trail system, more and different restaurants and a dry cleaning business.
Eldridge said Kent Associates will present its final list of recommendations at a meeting Nov. 17.
In the meantime, the 10-person committee will meet with the consultants on Oct. 11. All meetings are open to the public.
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