Design Committee

The Design Committee plays a key role in shaping the physical image of Main Street as a place that is attractive to shoppers, investors, business owners, and visitors.

The main tasks of the Design Committee include:
* Educating others about good design - enhancing the image of each business as well as that of the district;
* Providing good design advice - encouraging quality improvements to private properties and public spaces;
* Planning Main Street's development - guiding future growth and shaping regulations; and
* Motivating others to make changes - creating incentives and targeting key projects.

Current Design Projects

WMSt Proudly Presents the 2008 Spring Banner Program
The Design Committee of Waterville Main Street invites children of all ages to design and paint seasonal spring banners to be chosen for display on the light poles in beautiful downtown Waterville. Prizes and certificates will be awarded. Get involved with your community and have fun, too! For more information, download the official rules and entry form or contact Shannon Haines at 207-680-2055 or shannon@watervillemainstreet.org.

To find out what the Design Committee is up to, view the 2007-08 Design Committee Work Plan (PDF, 63KB).

Past Accomplishments

Downtown Waterville Historic Walking Tour
The Design Committee of Waterville Main Street, under the leadership of Jill Hodsdon, has developed a fascinating Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Waterville. Featuring nearly 50 sites, this tour highlights the people, places and events that shaped the history of Waterville. To obtain your printed copy, visit Waterville Main Street, the City of Waterville, Waterville Historical Society, the Waterville Public Library, or the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce. You may also call 680-2055 or send an email to info@watervillemainstreet.org.

Wayfinding signage
Funded by a grant from the Maine Department of Transportation, new wayfinding signage has been installed to guide visitors from I-95 to Downtown Waterville and other important community locations, including Thomas College, Colby College, MaineGeneral Health, and Inland Hospital. 4 of the 6 new signs (pictured to the right) have been installed to date - 3 along Kennedy Memorial Drive and 1 on Upper Main Street. The remaining two signs are expected to be installed in the fall of 2006.

New Sign Welcomes People to Downtown Waterville
A new granite sign welcoming people to downtown Waterville was installed in front of the Old Post Office – a very important gateway to downtown - in the summer of 2004. This project was funded by generous contributions from the Waterville Main Street Board of Directors and a grant from the Department of Transportation.

WMSt Facade Improvement Grant Program
The second round of Facade Improvement Grants has been awarded. 12 new projects will be funded in the 2005 round of the grant program. Projects range from new signs and awnings to new outdoor seating to the construction of a handicapped access ramp. For more information on the program, visit the Facade Improvement Grant page of the web site.

NEWS & UPDATES

Visit the Maine Preservation website. Maine Preservation is the statewide private nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the irreplaceable architectural heritage, historic places and communities of Maine.

DESIGN COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Erik Thomas, Chair
Bill Arnold
Carol Ezhaya
Joe Feely
John Fortier
Jill Hodsdon
Brenda Rancourt
Matt Skehan
Mark Turner
Shannon Haines, Staff