Along with much of the nation, Bangor saw big changes when so-called urban renewal
policies were implemented in the 1950s and 1960s. The policies meant a shift from
emphasizing the downtown as the center of commerce to outlying shopping centers. Has
this been good for Bangor? If it has meant a net loss for the city, in terms of community
vitality, what similar forces are at work today that someday may be regretted?