How Mayor Tom Koch Revived Quincy, MA (and What Other Cities Can Learn)

What does it really take to bring a city back to life?

In the latest episode of Maine For Keeps, I sit down with Mayor Tom Koch, the longest-serving mayor in Quincy, Massachusetts — and the man behind one of the most impressive downtown transformations in New England.

When Mayor Koch took office in 2008, Quincy’s downtown was full of empty storefronts and faded promise. The shipyard was long gone. The malls had pulled shoppers away. The local institutions were thinking about leaving.

So what did he do?

He fired the master planner. Rewrote the zoning code. Took bold, early bets on infrastructure. And started lining up capital and community support before he was even sworn in.

Eighteen years later, Quincy has:

• Over $250M in new public infrastructure
• A booming, livable downtown with housing, parks, and culture
• A reputation as one of the best cities in the country to live and do business

We talk about the whole journey, from firing the first developer to convincing the state to stop holding up a seawall repair for 10 months. We also dig into lessons for other towns: how to move faster, build smarter, and make space for new growth without losing local character.

Whether you’re a mayor, developer, planner, or just someone who loves watching cities come back to life — this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.