Congress Street Named One of America’s Great Streets

American Planning Association bestows honor to 10 Great Streets Across America

PORTLAND, Maine – The American Planning Association (APA) today announced that Portland’s Congress Street has earned the designation as one of the 10 Great Streets for 2014. Each October during National Community Planning Month, APA’s Great Places in America program names 30 exemplary streets, neighborhoods and public spaces that add value to communities and foster economic growth and jobs.

“Congress Street is the heart and soul of Portland’s downtown,” said Mayor Michael Brennan. “It’s great to see Portland receiving more national attention, and to be recognized for the more than 30 years of work that the City planners have been doing to improve Congress Street.” 

Congress Street serves as the city's primary east-west commercial and transportation axis. Dating

City’s Façade Improvement Program Gives Facelift to Three Buildings & Six Storefronts on Congress Street

Portland, Maine - Thanks in part to the City of Portland’s Façade Improvement Program, three buildings and six storefronts on Congress Street have been, or are in the process of, getting a facelift. The City’s Economic Development Department created the program, and collaborates with the Planning & Urban Development to administer it. The funding, which helps to leverage private investment, comes from the City’s Community Development Block Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

”The Façade Program produces such tangible results,” said Greg Mitchell, Portland’s Economic Developer Director. “This is an effective program to stimulate private sector investment. Thanks to the many property and business owners who have partnered with the City to rehab their storefronts, the experience of Congress Street continues to get better and better.”

Once this second round of the Façade Program on Congress Street has been completed, the public