Beginning in the 70’s, Lewiston and Auburn started looking at ways to consolidate efforts and save money. This trend continues today, so much so that there is talk of the twin cities perhaps one day becoming a single city. In 1999, Lewiston instituted an Urban Center Master Plan designed to deal with a specific set of challenges and goals. Some of the challenges included an excess inventory of unused building space, a lack of diversity in the arts, and a diminished downtown retail climate. Most of the goals reflect the list of challenges except the last one. Goal #11 states, “To conduct the development of downtown Lewiston, especially along the waterfront, in a manner which is consistent with the initiatives in Auburn.”  This indicates Lewiston’s high awareness of its neighbor’s needs in combination with its own.

A couple of other methods used to further this combined effort would be the L/A Arts organization which, described by its name, has been instrumental in reviving some creative endeavors and helping to give the cities a fresher look. Also, a joint branding effort touting that “It’s Happening Here!” for the combined L/A region has been underway for a couple of years now, and follows the “Cities of the Androscoggin” campaign in the 1990’s.  The Visible Community formed in the area and acts as a watchdog in preserving some of L/A’s historical heritage sites and buildings, working in combination with the Heritage Initiative. There is also a Youth Advisory Council whose function is to advise area leaders on how to retain and attract more youth and young adults to L/A as consumers and residents.

One need only drive or walk around L/A today to see all of the development taking place in the downtown area and the sometimes shocking differences in appearance. Lisbon Street alone, the old haunt of pawn shops and porn, is now nearly unrecognizable from just a few years ago.

All in all, Lewiston and Auburn are not only on the brink of renewed success in economic development but appear to be well on their way down that road. L/A has been referred to as a model city in revitalizing “the old into something new” in respect to the Brookings Institute Report. An example of how to take what you have that seems to be worn out and useless and turning it into something new and productive again without losing character and/or charm. Lastly, Lewiston was just named an All-American City. Lewiston is one of only five Maine cities to earn that moniker and only a few years behind her sister city of Auburn. Down to brass tacks, this award signifies Lewiston and Auburn as highly desirable towns to live and work in.

So what does L/A’s future hold? Can it shake that clingy reputation s burned out mill town? How much more needs to be done to accomplish that? Can L/A distinguish itself from the “belabored and unfriendly” Portland market? Again, how might this be accomplished? Will L/A’s efforts to revitalize its downtown help stem sprawl or uncontrolled development? Is sprawl truly and issue for this region?