PORTLAND (WGME) -- Big changes could be coming to Lewiston’s riverfront area.
Tuesday night, the city council and planning board adopted a massive master plan for the project.
Simard Payne Park is one of the focus areas for revitalization.
It’s not only exciting for city leaders, but businesses as well.
“It has a good parking lot, a good view,” Afro Taste Part-Owner Bernard Katende said.
Afro Taste is a new restaurant and lounge along Main Street.
“This spot is strategic,” Katende said.
It could be even more so soon, because part of the Riverfront Island Master Plan Update focuses right in that area.
“The intent for Island Point is to have it be mixed use,” Lewiston City Planner Shelley Norton said. “We're looking at having a recreation area as well as event-type possibilities.”
It includes housing and improves pedestrian access.
“If there's more people walking around, coming to check us out, that’s a good thing for the community and it’s a good thing for the business as well,” Katende said.
It's not a done deal yet. What was approved this week updates a previous plan from 2012, which has helped guide development, which in some cases has hit snags.
“With most of this, we're taking a deeper dive into the details about what would make it feasible,” Norton said.
The city planner says some projects are underway and others are now budgeted for.
There's even federal money to extend the riverwalk to the south.
“For sure, there’s a lot of public infrastructure that needs to be done, but there's plenty of room for private development,” Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said.
There's the possibility for retail shops, housing and updates to the canals and more.
“Over here, there’s potential for an amphitheater,” Sheline said.
The mayor is looking forward to seeing how things take shape over the next few years.
“The downtown riverfront has come a long ways and this plan, this update, really sets us up for the future,” Sheline said.
The city says there's already been interest from at least one developer.