Tag: Bates Mill No.5

Public Forum Results, part 2

Grow L+A

Grow L+A held a public forum in September. The purpose was to discuss the findings of the Karp Resources Report, as well as solicit input from the community.

More than 100 people attended and an engaging evening ensued.

Here we have part 1 of a summary of the ideas and suggestions we heard from residents of Lewiston and Auburn about redeveloping Bates Mill No. 5.

Two framing questions were utilized, the first one focused on what people read in the Karp Report.  Here are highlights from the forum.

Framing Question #2

Given tonight’s discussion and your own reading of the report, what are the best ideas and strategies that help Grow L+A, and the community, move forward?

Key themes-

In relation to best uses of Bates Mill No. 5

Local food and health-related businesses

  • Medical tourism and health services (alternative medicine, being just one)
  • Education-includes wellness and food prep; teaching kitchen
  • Light manufacturing
    • Fits with idea of sustainability and history of building
  • Maker space
  • Indoor recreation
  • Business incubator
  • Urban business park
  • Grocery story with a shared kitchen (similar to St. Mary’s integrated kitchen concept)
  • Rosemont-style market (Portland and Yarmouth)
  • Open/accessible community space

We welcome any other suggestions that you might have. Email them to us at info@growla.org.

 

Public Forum Results, part 1

Grow L+A

Grow L+A held a public forum in September. The purpose was to discuss the findings of the Karp Resources Report, as well as solicit input from the community.

More than 100 people attended and an engaging evening ensued.

Here we have part 1 of a summary of the ideas and suggestions we heard from residents of Lewiston and Auburn about redeveloping Bates Mill No. 5.

Two framing questions were utilized, the first one focused on what people read in the Karp Report.  Here are highlights from the forum.

Framing Question #1

Given what you heard this evening, and your own reading of the report, what are the most important points that Grow L+A and the community can come away with?

Key themes-

In relation to food and farming

  • Supply and demand affect local food availability
  • Food clearly needs to have a role in redeveloping Bates Mill No. 5
  • Recognition of obstacles for farmers, hindering supplying more food
  • How many farmers are there in a 25-mile radius of L-A
  • Why do farmers do business the way they do (small vs. big)

In relation to Bates Mill No. 5/the physical building itself

    • The space is big
    • Multi-use development is a must
    • Location is an asset/centrality
    • What is the best use of building
    • Incorporate into walkable plan for downtowns
    • Leverage natural light of building

We welcome any other suggestions that you might have. Email them to us at info@growla.org.

Kitchen Table Discussions

Grow L+A

During a 2 week period at the end of the summer, Grow L+A conducted a series of kitchen table discussions about the Karp Report with a cross section of the community. Here is a summary of the results of those discussions.

Stakeholder Charrette Summary-

Question #1: Given the outcome of the Karp Report, what are the lessons learned?

  • Karp identified the issue as “supply.”
  • Food hub is not the total vision for the mill, just part of it.
  • Large institutions occupy a key role in the food chain (universities, hospitals, nursing homes, school systems) in driving demand, which might increase supply.
  • Price of local food is an issue in increasing both supply/demand.
  • How do we “ratchet up” another level of small producers that can address supply?
  • Year-round availability of local food.

Question #2: How do we better position Bates Mill #5 as an asset in cultivating a vibrant urban landscape, making living in Lewiston and Auburn more sustainable?

  • Grocery store with health/wellness component; the two go “hand-in-hand.”
  • Counter negative image of L-A; especially Lewiston and terms like “The Dirty Lew.”
  • Public Image of Bates Mill No. 5
  • Self-image of L-A
  • IMAGINE/ENVISION
    • Think/See

Note: Key role for Grow L+A in promoting a “vision” about Bates Mill No. 5

Question #3 Positioning Bates Mill No. 5—as an asset a vibrant urban landscape/sustainability

Needs that creative redevelopment of Bates Mill No. 5 could meet.

  • Childcare
  • Wellness Center
  • Marketplace
  • Learning space/training space
  • Shared kitchen
  • “Aggregator” of food services
  • Larger/Diverse Farmer’s market (indoors)
  • Business incubator