Council have partnered with national social enterprise Renew Australia to “activate” vacant spaces in and around the CBD by giving new, creative businesses and community initiatives free or cheap tenure.

The small scale urban revival initiative, Create Maitland, will offer short term tenures in vacant commercial sites for creatives.

Mayor Loretta Baker said it was about “activating meeting places” and “enriching our creative and cultural identity”. 

“I am very excited about all these kind of programs. It’s all about making a livable city, and attractive to visitors,” she said. 

“We want more people coming to Maitland, and we want more people to stay overnight. 

“This gives people yet another reason to come and be involved in the city.

“We don’t want any empty shop windows and the more people who come to Maitland to visit, the more they spend to boost the economy.”

Nearly a decade ago, Renew Newcastle launched the urban renewal initiative which transformed the then run-down Hunter Street Mall.

So far, there are 25 initiatives signed up including a public art consultancy business, secondhand clothing and record store, succulent and cacti store – but there has been a slow uptake of interest from property owners.

The lack of momentum prompted council officers to prepare a prospectus which will be mailed to 350 landlords and agents with property in Central Maitland in a bid to garner their support.

“We are very excited to have had such a great response from the creatives in Maitland and they’ve shown a strong desire to get the Create Maitland Pilot Project off the ground,” Maitland Council’s city economy coordinator Andrew Brown said.

In late 2017, on behalf of council, Renew Australia conducted a scoping study to determine the feasibility of an urban renewal style program in Maitland. 

Last Tuesday, council noted a report on the progress of the small-scale initiative with Labor councillor Ben Whiting applauding the program. 

“This has the potential to be a very good program. I’m not sure whether our inability to secure too many landlords to assist is a good sign or bad sign,” he said.

“But let’s hope that if the call goes out, those with sites will put their hands up.”

Participants will pay a fee, which is generally around $25 per week, plus usage for water, electricity and gas.​ “The Create Maitland Prospectus will hopefully help generate interest among landlords by providing examples of the types of creatives and start ups that are ready to participate as soon as a property is forthcoming,” Mr Brown said.

“I feel that if the right property can be secured, then the pilot program will gain momentum and show other property owners the value of participating.”