These days, thanks in large part to several local business-minded families, downtown Augusta is much more vibrant. Water Street is home to unique shops, restaurants, bakeries, salons, and even a bicycle shop. Following the news that a number of Maine municipalities, including Portland, have started fining landlords/building owners for having unleased commercial spaces, the discussion came up in an Augusta city council meeting. According to the KJ, it was discovered that the city has actually had a vacant building ordinance. The current version of the ordinance says property owners need to register their buildings within 60 days of becoming vacant.