BIDDEFORD, Maine — After years of planning and construction, city leaders in Biddeford are celebrating the completion of a reconstruction project along Pearl Street.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony, city leaders shared thanks to the moving parts who helped make the street what it is today.
"Ten years ago, who would have imagined Pearl Street being like it is today?" Mayor Alan Casavant said. "Community members can now dine, shop, live and make connections with their neighbors."
The project's aim was to revitalize the street and property where the former Maine Energy Recovery Company trash incinerator used to be, and turn it into a social and economic hub for residents and visitors alike.
Thanks to a $1.2 million federal grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the area is now home to residential and commercial spaces and a supporting parking garage.
"You know there's no sidewalk down there... so we can basically close it off and have a completely open space where people can walk around and enjoy," City Chief Operating Officer Brian Phinney added.
Eco-friendly brick has also been laid to control groundwater in the area.
With other projects in the works surrounding Pearl Street, city leaders say the combination of projects could create more than 600 jobs.
Owner of the Pint and Pawn Derek Laplume has set up shop on Pearl Street since this past March. He says while business growth has been slow to start, he's seen an upward trend.
"It's turning over from this dead-end street that had a brewery at the end of it five years ago to now all of these bumping businesses," Laplume said.