Downtown Master Plan
Adopted December 1, 2021, the Heart of Gardiner Master Plan envisions a future for Downtown Gardiner that is more resilient in the face of future flooding events, with a stronger economic engine, and redevelopment that extends the unique and historical character of downtown to adjacent streets at the urban core of Downtown Gardiner.
Plan Goals
Support Downtown Placemaking
This plan provides recommendations that further strengthen Downtown Gardiner’s sense of place by building upon and extending existing downtown character. Placemaking recommendations build upon the physical materials and natural characteristics that make it unique from other Maine and New England Downtowns
Build Economic Vibrancy
This plan identifies key redevelopment opportunities and reviews regional and local economic datasets to provide recommendations for future economic development and business attraction/ retention efforts to strengthen Downtown Gardiner’s economic vibrancy and resiliency for years to come.
Develop Environmental Resilience
Downtown Gardiner is built on the confluence of the Cobbossee Stream and the Kennebec River. This natural junction exposes the historic downtown core to significant flood hazard. This plan provides recommendations that can improve Downtown’s resilience in the face of future storm events and floods.
Springing from the 2012-13 Comprehensive Planning Heart and Soul Process, this Plan took an in-depth look at ways to improve and revitalize "The Heart of Gardiner" - the downtown. Commerce, events, history, and people came together in the historic streets and buildings sitting above the confluence of the Kennebec River and Cobbossee Stream. This master plan effort, spearheaded by the City of Gardiner, Gardiner Main Street, and a host of community advocates, gathered community input and site conditions and built a master plan that can guide our downtown towards a more resilient and vibrant future.