Stonington explores listing its downtown as a historic district

Official says the designation could help attract financial incentives for revitalization

June 1, 2026

Downtown Stonington. Photo courtesy of Town of Stonington.

By staff

STONINGTON—Property owners and residents will have an opportunity later this month to learn about the opportunities and implications of listing part of Stonington's downtown as a National Historic District during a public information session at town hall.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 11 on the second floor of Stonington Town Hall. Officials from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Maine Preservation will discuss the district's eligibility for listing, the designation process and financial incentives available for building rehabilitation and investment, according to a town press release.

A portion of Stonington's Main Street commercial district was surveyed by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission in 2015 and determined eligible for listing as a National Historic District. The district encompasses a collection of buildings constructed largely between 1870 and 1930, during the height of Stonington's granite industry, the press release said.

The area is known for its historic commercial buildings featuring mansard roofs and granite foundations. During the town's economic boom, more than 40 stores and businesses operated in the district. Upper floors often housed business owners and their families or served as rooming houses for quarry workers.

"Listing the existing historic district does one thing and one thing only: it creates a financial mechanism to support capital investments and improvements in these buildings," said Linda Nelson, Stonington's economic and community development director, in a statement.

Nelson said several buildings within the proposed district are either underutilized or at risk without access to rehabilitation funding opportunities.

"We have multiple buildings in this district that are either not used to capacity or endangered without access to rehabilitation funds," Nelson said. "The town is happy to host this opportunity to clarify the investment potential and respond to any misconceptions held by property owners."

Guest presenters at the June 11 meeting include Michael Goebel-Bain and Tara Kelly.

Goebel-Bain has served as Maine's National Register and architectural survey coordinator since 2016, helping identify and nominate eligible historic properties throughout the state. Before entering the preservation field, he worked as a carpenter for 12 years and earned a graduate degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont.

Kelly joined Maine Preservation in 2021 after more than a decade working in historic preservation, nonprofit management, public policy and advocacy. She serves on the advisory council of the Maine Downtown Center and is a member of the Maine Real Estate Development Association's Public Policy Committee.

The information session comes as the town continues work on updating its 2018 comprehensive plan. Residents can participate in a community survey online or obtain paper copies at the Town Office, Connectivity Hub or Stonington Public Library.

For further information on the Comprehensive Planning Update process, the Town of Stonington, and meeting links, visit the town’s website.