Views on Saco/Biddeford (Portland: 2009, condos, homes)

[lookinforahome]

I live in Saco right now, I'm just curious what other people think of the Saco/Biddeford area (mostly Saco)?

[lrfox]

^Saco is nice. I love the beautiful old homes and the library on Main St. as well as Thornton Academy. The shops downtown are cute, and I have always felt (since my days at USM) that the old mill on the island had a lot of potential and I'm glad to see some condos and a new Brew-Pub in there. Ocean Park and the area by the ocean is pretty as well.

I feel like Biddeford is, for lack of a better term, a diamond in the rough. Main St. in Biddeford has some nice density and with a little work, could be quite attractive. It's just too bad that there are so many vacant storefronts. If prices go higher in Portland, I feel like Saco and Biddeford will see a bit of a revitilization, but until then, they're a work in progress (with Saco being the more attractive of the two).

Saco/Biddeford seems to be in the same rut as many of the old mill towns in New England, but like many of those towns, certain parts have cleaned up, the area is slowly catching back up with the rest of the region. Like I said, if people start getting priced out of Portland, look for a growth spurt in Saco/Biddeford.

p.s. I like the idea of putting the train station indoors and I hope that even in the economic rut we've ("we" meaning the nation, not just Maine) been in the state will find funding to keep the train running after July 1 2009. Furthermore, I hope they make improvements to speed up the route and expand it North.

[lookinforahome]

Yes I agree. I think the downtown portion of Saco needs new buildings as it is very mis-matched right now. Other than that I do enjoy it. And yea I think the Biddeford Main St. is nice but in need of work.

[lrfox]

^Yeah, the best example is "Rapid Ray's," I like the idea of it, but it seems so.... out of place. It is pretty, and even the older buildings have a lot of architectural integrity to them. In fact, I'd say the Renaissance Revival Masonic Block is one of my favorite old buildings in the state. I'd say you have plenty of reason to be proud of your area.