75 Units of Affordable Housing Opens in…Wait For It…Portland!
We see so many million-dollar homes for sale, how about something affordable in Maine's largest city?
The nonprofit housing developer Avesta Housing this week opens Deering Place, a new 75-unit, $15.3 million, affordable housing complex...in downtown Portland! Wait, what?
According to MaineBiz, Deering Place (which will have some units at market rates) is made up of three apartment buildings on Deering Street and Cumberland Avenue. There's a new building, a renovated building, and a rework of an existing building and there's parking included. Parking in Portland!
The president and CEO of Avesta Housing, Dan Totman, told MaineBiz that when housing costs are setting all-time records,
...we are proud to provide safe, quality, affordable homes in the heart of the state’s largest city to a diverse population. Deering Place exemplifies our mission that everyone deserves a place to call home.
Anyone looking for housing knows that here in Maine it's dire. Avesta Housing, based in Portland, is the developer, owner, property manager, and resident service provider. They built or renovated this current $15.3 million project with maximum energy efficiency in mind.
This is a great area and has lots of amenities like a community room, laundry, and a parking garage. According to MaineBiz, last year 6,231 people applied for housing assistance through Avesta, a jump of 32%, and over a third said they were homeless. Avesta was only able to find housing for less than 8% of them. I'm so happy to spread the word of this amazing actual affordable housing.
I hope there are more stories like this in the future. Maine needs more housing like this and fewer million-dollar condos.