WATERVILLE — The city has received $19,875 in grant assistance from the Historic Preservation Fund, a program of the National Park Service, and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.

These funds will support a comprehensive survey of the Victorian Center neighborhood, a historic residential area located west of downtown. This neighborhood, bound by Elm Street, Burleigh Street, Western Avenue, and North Street, boasts the city’s highest concentration of structures built between 1850 and 1910, many of which have remained largely intact, according to a news release from Michael Hall, Community Development Specialist with the city.

Julie Larry of Black Diamond Consultants Inc., a Gardiner-based preservation firm, will lead the survey project. The initiative will be overseen by the city in collaboration with its newly formed Historic Preservation Commission. Preliminary research commenced this fall, with the project slated for completion by Dec. 1, 2025.

The survey aims to document and evaluate the architectural and historical significance of the neighborhood’s structures, which represent a key era in Waterville’s development. This effort underscores the city’s commitment to preserving its rich heritage and ensuring informed decisions about future planning and development.

“We are thrilled to embark on this important project that will help us better understand and celebrate the historical fabric of our city,” said Hall. “The Victorian Center neighborhood is a remarkable example of Waterville’s architectural legacy, and this survey will provide a strong foundation for its continued preservation.”

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