As Maine’s second largest metropolitan area, Lewiston Auburn is home to several higher education institutions, is driven by a healthcare and manufacturing economy, and is a historically diverse community.  18th and 19th century industrialization was fueled by European immigration, followed by a strong Quebecois secondary migration for work in shoe and textile mills, and late 20th and early 21st century refugee and asylum seeker immigration from across Africa and the Middle East.  Separated by the Androscoggin River, those who visit find many events and annual festivals and can also enjoy breweries, restaurants, and recreational activities. The cities are, however, situated within easy access to the “foodie city” of Portland 40 miles south, which garnered the Bon Appetit 2018 Restaurant City of the year designation and is home to several James Beard award-winning chefs.  For those with the economic capacity, easy access to Brunswick and Augusta, each 30 miles away, also contributes to Lewiston and Auburn suffering from out-migration for dining.  Indeed, The Maine Office of Tourism, despite concerted efforts from the Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders and cultural venues to change this perception still merges metropolitan Lewiston Auburn with the Maine Lakes and Mountains region west to the New Hampshire border and describes the cities as “midway between the state’s spectacular coastline and lush mountains, alongside the Maine Turnpike.” But, as revitalization continues, Lewiston Auburn community champions have placed increased emphasis on activating the downtowns on both sides of the river with significant public investment in parks and open spaces for outdoor recreation, festivals and events.  Lewiston’s River Island Master Plan and Auburn’s most recent Comprehensive Plan call for long-term targeted investments in the downtown riverfront.  Private investment is following with an $80M mill redevelopment into 380 market rate apartments adjacent to a 72-unit affordable housing project on the same riverfront parcel with 20,000 sf of planned restaurant and retail space. Across the Androscoggin River in Auburn (and pedestrian accessible by a former railroad bridge) is another new development, designed to emphasize sustainability, that will feature 18 market-rate residential units and two commercial spaces — a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and a 1,200-square-foot retail space.