GORHAM – Gorham’s downtown business district could be in for some serious sprucing up.

Armed with a $150,000 grant, the town, which is observing its 275th anniversary this year, will replace decaying sidewalks in the heart of the village this spring to aid pedestrians. And Gorham has applied for a $74,000 facade grant to preserve character and paint exteriors of three structures in the Gorham Historic District. Both public and privately owned historic buildings qualify.

“It’s part of economic development,” Sandra Mowery, the town’s zoning administrator, said this week.

Mowery said she hopes to land the Cumberland County Community Development Block Grant program to improve exterior appearances of three village landmarks – the Harmon-Harding House at 45 State St.; the former Gorham Grange Hall, now housing the Centre of Movement, 19 State St.; and a former church at 29 School St., converted into The Church Performing Arts Center.

“These buildings are so beautiful,” Mowery said.

Tom Ellsworth, director of Gorham Economic Development Corp., said the fac?ade grant application for the historic buildings is part of an ongoing village revitalization plan.

“If we restore them, it will make Gorham Village more vibrant,” Ellsworth said.

Gorham Village area has 40 elderly housing units, according to the application, and is near the University of Southern Maine campus. Gorham envisions a spiffy downtown would attract out-of-town shoppers in addition to town folk and students. “If you have a place that’s pretty, people want to go there,” Mowery said.

Mowery said the fac?ade grant wouldn’t cost Gorham property taxpayers anything and the three property owners would pay $18,441, 20 percent in applicants’ cost sharing, for a total of $92,205 to enhance the appearance of the three buildings.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Matt Robinson, chairman of the Town Council, said Tuesday about village restoration.

Gorham likely will know in May whether its application is successful.

“We’re hopeful, it’s competitive,” Ellsworth said.

Under the grant, which was submitted Jan. 28, architectural details of each of the three historic buildings would be preserved, lead paint removed and re-painted. Damaged wood trim would be repaired.

Allan Keogh owns the Harmon-Harding House residence. Keogh said a blacksmith, Phineas Harmon, built it in 1837. While it was the first house on State Street, he said, a barn there dates to 1827.

Keogh said it was later the home of state Sen. Edward Harding, a prominent Gorham citizen and town postmaster. The home features post-and-beam construction and a wrought iron balcony. Keogh said early occupants would stand on the balcony to hear the news from passers-by.

Keogh, 62, moved there 10 years ago. He’s a former landscaper who was injured when he fell 30 feet from a tree and can’t perform restoration work himself.

“I want to restore it the way it was,” Keogh said.

Vicky Lloyd, owner-director of the Centre of Movement School of Performing Arts in the former Gorham Grange Hall, said the grant would repair exterior doors and windows. She said the building dates to 1880, according to a hand-written deed.

“They’re trying to give things a facelift,” said Lloyd, who will pay a 20 percent match, “which is really a deal.”

The former School Street Methodist Church, built in 1880, is a landmark in the heart of the village and has been rehabbed for new use. Michel Salvaggio Sr. owns the complex that houses Thatcher’s Restaurant and St. Joe’s Coffee. The former church sanctuary has been converted to The Church Performing Arts Center, which just opened and is operated by Michel Salvaggio Jr.

The Church Performing Arts Center, with a full-service kitchen and bar, is available for weddings, corporate functions, dinner theater, reunions, banquets, shows and a variety of special events.

“You name it and we’re available for it,” Salvaggio Sr. said Tuesday.

The church sanctuary conversion preserved original features like the tin ceiling, walls and woodwork. The altar rail is now displayed on the balcony.

“It looks fantastic,” said Celeste Ross, manager of the facility.

Grant money would provide exterior restoration of the 131-year old landmark.

“It’s going to be the jewel of the town of Gorham,” Salvaggio said.

For the three historic projects, Ellsworth would ensure that work complies with all local and state requirements, monitor expenditures and file progress reports.

However, Ellsworth said, Gorham has to compete with projects from other communities for the funds. If the grant is approved, Ellsworth said, the three buildings would be restored to their original luster.

The town already has been awarded a grant for village sidewalk upgrades. Mowery said replacement sidewalks at the corners of the intersection of routes 25 and 114 would be concrete with granite curbs. Gorham Public Works Director Bob Burns will oversee the project, which will include drainage improvements and revitalizing crosswalks.

The sidewalks will replace brick sections installed in a project involving merchants and public works in the 1980s with private funds.

But the sidewalks have deteriorated. “They’re horrible,” Burns said.

The $150,000 grant and a $30,000 match by the town will pay for sidewalk replacements on three of the four corners of the intersection. Burns said the town would pay to replace sidewalks on the South Street and State Street corner of the square.

Burns said BH2M Engineering on State Street is designing the sidewalk project, which will go out to bid this spring with construction to start as soon as possible.

Town officials say the Bernard P. Rines Highway, the bypass that opened in 2008, also has proved helpful in a more pedestrian-friendly village. Ellsworth said the bypass reduced noise and pollution in the village center.

“It took a whole bunch of truck traffic out of town,” Ellsworth said.

Mowery is moving ahead to further the town’s revitalization. Mowery plans to seek another grant, “Communities for Maine’s Future,” with an application due Friday, July 1, with announcement of awards on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Gorham’s first zoning administrator, Mowery was hired in 2009 to bolster the town’s business posture. “Sandra has been a great asset,” Robinson said.

Up for repair if a grant is approved is this rotting doorway – complete with peeling paint, plastic on the window and crumbling cement – which provides a backdrop for two Centre of Movement students, Mariel Roy and Amelia Whitten.Photo by Rich Obrey