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V O L . X X I V N O. X I X S E P T E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 8 6 CMP says 'We're sorry' Central Maine Power launched televi- sion ads featuring President and CEO Douglas Herling apologizing for the utility's failure to adequately respond to customer complaints about a new billing system introduced last winter on the heels of massive power outages related to a powerful Oct. 30 storm. In a one-minute video that's posted on the company's website, Herling begins by noting that CMP's relationship with nearly 600,000 customers in central and Southern Maine is "built upon reliability and trust." Herling, formerly vice president of electric operations, became CMP's president and CEO in mid-January, well after the storm but at a time when customer complaints about alleged "overbilling" began to surface publicly. He replaced Sara Burns, who retired at the end of the year. "is past winter we implemented a new customer care system," he said. "When you raised issues and concerns we didn't respond as well as we should have — and we're very sorry about that. You deserve better." Herling said CMP has since expanded its customer service team, made technology upgrades and is "working hard to address each and every concern that's been raised." Axiom lands $700K grant to close 'digital divide' Machias-based Axiom Education and Training Center received a $699,503 AmeriCorps grant from the Maine Commission for Community Service to support 16 AmeriCorps workers who will provide digital literacy train- ing. e grant to Axiom's National Digital Equity Center will support AmeriCorps members' efforts in eight B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E PR ES ENTI NG S PONS OR Join us at our fifth stop in the 2018 On the Road with Mainebiz event series at the Bethel Inn Resort. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar while networking with business executives in the area. Network with Mainebiz and Area Business Executives on September 6 AT T E N DA N C E I S FREE B U T S PAC E I S LIMITED! Please be sure to register ahead at www.mainebiz.biz/OTRBethel BETHEL 5:00–7:00pm | The Bethel Inn Resort FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #OTRBethel18 For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Publisher Donna Brassard at dbrassard@mainebiz.biz or 207.261.8379 x327 2 0 1 8 R E A D E R S ' C H O I C E W I N N E R SoPo moves ahead with affordable housing on former church site B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r South Portland Housing Authority's purchase of 611 Main St. moves it closer to the goal of building 42 affordable housing apartments and commercial space there. The property consists of the former St. John the Evangelist Church, plus a former parish house and school building around the corner on Aspen Avenue, totaling 19,199 square feet. The property also includes a parking lot for the three buildings. The housing authority paid $1.05 million for the property. Frank O'Connor, Tom Moulton and Katie Millett from NAI The Dunham Group brokered the sale, which closed July 31. Main Street is also Route 1 through this section of the city. "We had our eye on it for potential development," said Michael Hulsey, South Portland Housing Authority executive director. "We thought it would be a tremendous place in South Portland that needed revitalization and some commercial activity. We thought it would be a great spot for housing." Hulsey said the existing buildings, including the church, will be torn down. The cost of new construction is estimated at $9 million to $10 million. Financing is expected to come through a mix of a low-income housing tax credit, commercial loans or mortgage debt, and housing equity, said Hulsey. The financ- ing is not yet in place. St. John the Evangelist was the home parish of the city's Catholics since 1940. In 1950, with the addition of post-war housing, the parish swelled to 500 families. It peaked in 1988 at 1,935 families. The church finance committee rec- ommended closing the church in 2013. Long waiting list for affordable housing Brooks More, South Portland Housing Authority's director of development, said the authority has 866 households on its waiting list for affordable housing. "The city had identified this corridor for economic develop- ment and revitalization," More said. The city has performed streetscape improvements in the neighborhood, including new sidewalks and light poles, he said. "Since I started last fall, just driving up that street you could see they started to create a sense of place up there. So this building will really build on that work the city has done." South Portland Housing Authority owns and/or manages over 700 units. After existing buildings are razed, a 40,000-square-foot, four-story building will be built with ground-floor commer- cial units and upper-story residential. In the back of the lot, plans call for creating three individual house lots and 10,000 square feet of open space for community gardens, a playground or something similar. The apartment building will have common rooms for residents that will also be rented out for neighborhood functions. B R I E F R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y S O U T H P O R T L A N D H O U S I N G A U T H O R I T Y Rendering shows the planned front façade of the South Portland Housing Authority's new 42-unit affordable housing building, at the corner of Main Street and Aspen Avenue.

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