Whatever the Maine Department of  Transportation’s final plan for downtown Wiscasset looks like, some business owners say, it will be necessary for everyone in town to work together to bring the kinds of new businesses Wiscasset wants in the downtown area, not just for the summer tourist season, but year-round for residents, too.

MDOT, which owns the right of way to Route 1 in Wiscasset, plans to change turning options, install traffic lights and other traffic-calming measures, add off-Route 1 parking and remove parking from Main Street, while adding features such as lighting, plant wells, benches and other features such as ramps and sidewalks that would be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While a legal challenge continues by lawyers for the Doering family, who own several properties downtown,  the plans for the project are being hammered out in the Downtown Public Advisory Committee meetings. State courts are legally bound to defer to state agencies in legal matters, and MDOT owns Route 1, from sidewalk to sidewalk.

As debate goes on in town, there have been recriminations by some business owners opposed to the project, often targeting those who are in favor, according to business owners Margot Sullivan and Brad Sevaldson and others interviewed. Sullivan, who owns Moulinette at 60 Main Street, said some opposing business owners have stopped speaking to her, and one man came into her shop and berated her for supporting the MDOT project. “In front of customers, too,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s been a very emotional issue for some people.”

Sevaldson, co-owner of BIRCH at 72 Main Street, said people he considered friends have told him they can’t speak to him anymore. “It’s unfortunate, because we will all benefit from this project,” he said.

Nevertheless, now that the plan appears to be going forward as scheduled next year, these pro-project business owners are speaking out about their hopes for what could be accomplished afterward.

“I’ve seen what MDOT did for other towns,” Sevaldson said. “They’re very good at putting in signage to get people where they need to go. MDOT is saving the capstone on the Haggett showroom building, and offered to put it in the new parking lot as a kind of historic monument to the structure. I am sure they’d give the windows to anyone who might use them in another historic structure, too. But the building has been changed too many times to be considered a valid historic property.”

Sevaldson said the actual garage is behind the showroom building on Water Street. “That is historic, and has been in continuous use as a garage all these years,” he said. “That’s the building that needed to be protected, and it was.”

Sevaldson, Sullivan, Judy Flanagan, Ken Kennedy-Patterson and Jody Elwell, who couldn’t make it to the meeting on Friday, July 21, all have said they had high hopes for the way the town would respond after the construction period was over, and said they would like to organize fun “construction zone” events during the construction process, such as having block parties and other events to bring people into town despite the possible confusion, and keep businesses open.

“I think, once it’s done, there is going to be something special here,” Sullivan said. “We’ll be able to have outdoor business opportunities in the summer.” She also liked the idea of having light fixtures so the town could do what other communities do – decorating, such as with banners and flowers.

“It will do a lot to beautify downtown,” Kennedy-Patterson said. “It’s like curb appeal for the downtown businesses.”

Everyone said out-of-area customers are looking forward to the changes after the project. “It’s not just the traffic, either,” said Flanagan. “It’s difficult to walk up and down Main Street, the stairs are crumbling, and there’s not enough room for a stroller or a wheelchair, and that limits who comes to Wiscasset.”

“Most of my customers have been positive about the project,” Sullivan said. “It will create a space for community that creates energy and excitement. I could see us having musicians play, or putting some of our wares out to encourage business.”

The group discussed bringing in business that would be used not only by tourists, but by year-round residents. “We need more restaurants,” Kennedy-Patterson said. He said an entrepreneur came to town looking for a location for a smaller restaurant, and was taken to see the former Le Garage. “That site was too big,” he said, “but we started thinking, couldn’t we have fine dining upstairs and have a pub and pizza place downstairs that would appeal to families and young people?”

Wiscasset currently has the Le Garage site, as well as The Ledges, which needs work, to fill with restaurants, and the group feels they could be tenanted if people were encouraged to come and do business in Wiscasset, and if they were supported by locals as well as tourists.

Other businesses are also needed, and the group said the effort to bring a small grocery to downtown was an inspiration. “The grocery store might or might not be a good fit,” Sullivan said. “But I am sure there are plenty of shops and restaurants the local people would like to see downtown, so they can just walk down and get what they need or have lunch or dinner.” She said she would like to work closely with the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce or perhaps create a new business owner group, such as the Main Street program, to have owners working with landlords to find appropriate tenants for the retail spaces downtown.

“My son never used to go downtown when he was younger, there was nothing there for him,” Sevaldson said. “It was just antique shops and art galleries. But now he says things are changing. There’s a new energy downtown, and a lot of it is coming from new residents who want to revitalize things. We need not only a four-season downtown, but a “lifelong” downtown. Kids, young adults, older folks, should all find something that interests them in Wiscasset, with a full range of prices.”

All agreed that the waterfront could be the jewel in Wiscasset’s crown, but that some basic items are needed for that to happen. “A place to do laundry on the waterfront, and some decent showers,” Flanagan said. “We also need to fix or replace the pump-out station and need to have a place for boaters to get gas or diesel.”

Transporting people from the airport to downtown or from the waterfront to locations a little more removed from Water Street is another issue. “It could be something as simple as a shuttle, or maybe just a couple of golf carts,” Sevaldson said. “It could be as sophisticated as a charter service that takes visitors to see the local sights. That could be another business opportunity for someone.”

Sullivan pointed out that people who are coming up on sailboats also need groceries and ice, and Shaw’s is too far away without a car. “I’d still like to see a small grocery – it wouldn’t have to be too big, in the downtown area,” she said. “It would be great for boaters, but also for seniors and other people who don’t drive.”

In the end, they said, everyone would benefit from working together to bring positive changes to Wiscasset’s downtown, whether they support the MDOT project or not.

“I’m hoping that when this all settles down, we can all get together and work together for the benefit of the town,” Sullivan said.