December 12: New projects may soon begin to ease housing burden for asylum seekers
With new developments underway, Portland, South Portland and Brunswick could see a combined 175 units for asylum seekers in the coming months. Avesta Housing is expected soon to open a 52-unit apartment community in South Portland. Avesta Housing has proposed a 48-unit community in Portland as well. In addition, Portland-based Developers Collaborative has two projects in Brunswick currently underway that will be “move-in ready in May or June,” providing 60 units between the two projects. All four projects have state rent payment support for two years.
Read the full article here.
December 12: Racial equity and inclusion, housing among top priorities for Portland City Council
A recent Press Herald article discusses the staffing challenges faced by Portland City Council and how that could impact “how much gets done.” Monday night’s City Council meeting primarily focused on housing. The council discussed strategies for increasing housing “such as utilizing the Jill C. Duson Housing Trust Fund, a city fund that can be used to finance affordable housing, and looking at what public land is available for housing to potentially be built on.”
Read the full article here.
December 13: Two Biddeford housing proposals get preliminary approval
The Biddeford Planning Board gave preliminary approval for two new development proposals, which would provide 411 new units to Biddeford. The first plan offered preliminary approval is for a 55 and older housing community planned to be built over eight years with 25 units built annually. The second plan by Devine Capital LLC is for 216 market-rate units spanning nine buildings.
Read the full article here.
December 15 : In Bridgton, 48-unit affordable housing apartment building underway
A new 48-unit apartment building has started construction in Bridgton. The building will be for “low-income, 55-plus residents” and is the first project in Bridgton to utilize equity provided by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which MaineHousing allocated. The community is expected to open in December 2023.
Read the full article here.
