The city of Biddeford is rapidly growing. Once viewed as an aging mill town, the city is now being described as “Maine’s hottest city,” an accomplishment that developers say is due to the city’s accessibility, walkability and many small businesses.

Erin Oldham, an associate broker at Portside Real Estate Group, said Biddeford is sought after by developers because of its “can-do attitude.”

“They’ve made it possible for projects to be successful,” Oldham said.

In the past few years, Biddeford has seen growth in small businesses, restaurants, housing and hotels, putting the city on the map as the place to be.

The Lincoln Hotel in downtown Biddeford, which opened in 2022, has been featured in well-known magazines and blogs such as Travel and Leisure, Forbes, and the Boston Sunday Globe, drawing visitors to Biddeford.

In 2023, Yankee Magazine called Biddeford a “baby Brooklyn.” In 2024, Good Housekeeping named Biddeford one of the best places in Maine to visit in December.

“We’ve created a place where people want to be,” Mayor Martin Grohman said.

More Maine businesses are choosing to open locations in Biddeford, including Kennebunkport-based Batson River, Yarmouth-based Brickyard Hollow, and Westbrook-based Cowbell Burger, all located within walking distance of each other in downtown Biddeford.

Across the Maine Turnpike, at the Shops at Biddeford Crossing, a brand new L.L.Bean outlet opened this spring, and an indoor entertainment center opened at the Five Points Shopping Center early this summer.

According to Oldham, it’s this kind of growth that makes Biddeford desirable.

“I think there’s a lot of excitement about Biddeford,” Oldham said. “The city is really well taken care of.”

Biddeford is also becoming rapidly more popular due to its affordability compared to Portland, Oldham said.

Projects like condos at the Pepperell Mills, which are being developed through Presidium and represented by Portside Real Estate Group, are marketed starting at $250,000, which Oldham said is unheard of in Portland.

“I think it’s pretty different from Portland, where a lot of the development has been focused on luxury condos,” Oldham said. “It’s much more attainable.”

The mills, Grohman said, are one example of the role that Biddeford’s booming downtown plays in the city’s growth.

“You don’t even need to cross the street to find a great coffee or local store,” Grohman said.

Biddeford provides the lifestyle that many people are looking for, Oldham said. The mills have a “cool, hip vibe,” restaurants are right next door, and residents can even go to the dentist or get a massage all within the same building.

“I don’t have to market Biddeford,” Oldham said. “People authentically like it. They can see and feel the energy.”

Developers are flocking to the city not only because of its walkability, accessibility, and flourishing art and food scene, but because the city itself is easy to work with.

“Our planning staff, historic preservation team, and City Council all take a collaborative, can-do approach,” Grohman said.

At a Pepperell Mills event last week with Presidium and Portside Real Estate Group, Grohman and Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matt Lewis were both in attendance.

“That was really reflective of Biddeford’s accessibility,” Oldham said.

Biddeford also prioritizes working with developers to keep prices low, Oldham said. Fathom Companies, currently looking to build a mixed-use development in the Pearl Street Riverfront District, worked with the city to keep prices in the low $300,000s to $600,000s.

This is lower, or almost equal to, the median Biddeford home price, which was reported as $495,000 in May, according to Redfin, a 17.9% increase from last year.

In addition to condominium development projects, Biddeford also has several affordable housing projects in the works, making the city a desired area for Mainers with varied incomes.

As Biddeford continues to grow downtown, Grohman said the city is also investing in other neighborhoods and conservation areas in an effort to make it better in every aspect.

“We’re firing on all cylinders right now, and the momentum is real,” Grohman said.