PORTLAND, Maine — If you've walked through downtown Portland lately, you've likely seen the growing number of vacant storefronts. Now, city officials are hoping a new ordinance will help change that.

Portland’s Housing and Economic Development Department is proposing a commercial vacancy ordinance aimed at encouraging property owners to fill empty ground-floor retail spaces that sit idle for extended periods.

One of the most visible examples of extended vacancy is the Schwartz Building on Congress Street that's been largely empty for roughly 15 years.

“Yeah, and that building is challenging,” Gregory Watson, the department's director, said.

Watson says the city needs to take action to avoid long-term vacancies from becoming the norm.

“We've been trying to engage with the community to

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