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V O L . X X V N O. I I I F E B R UA R Y 4 , 2 0 1 9 16 S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S has priced a lot of locals off the pen- insula — which in turn could have long-term negative consequences. "We need a long-range plan," says Joseph McDonnell, a professor at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service, "to make sure the city is livable, not just for the gentry, but for different levels of income." Quincy Hentzel, president and CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, has a similar view. "As a region and as a state we have so much to offer, but we won't be able to attract people to the Greater Portland area if they can't afford to live here," she says. Projects in the works Greg Payne, a development officer at Avesta and director of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, says two things are needed to address the housing shortage — more construc- tion and federal assistance. "e gap between supply and demand is widening, and with any luck a year from now it won't be wider," he says. On the supply side, Avesta has several projects in the pre-construction pipe- line — three in the Portland area, one in South Portland and one in Lewiston. e largest is Deering Place, at 510 Cumberland Ave. in Portland, a 75-unit mixed-income development designed by Archetype Architects and to be built by Zachau Construction. e develop- ment will include a major renovation of 13 existing units and the construc- tion of two new residential build- ings on adjacent lots. irty apart- ments will be market-rate and 45 will be affordable, targeting individuals and families with annual incomes of $25,000 to $60,000 for monthly rents ranging from $750 to $1,200. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E 178 Kennebec St. West Bayside, Portland 51 units of senior housing (age 55 and older), of which 40 will be income-restricted and 11 market-rate units Developer: Szanton Co. with Ross Furman Contractors: Archetype Architects and Herbert Construction Construction timeline: June 2019 to July 2020 58 Boyd St. East Bayside, Portland 55 units of family housing (50% subsidized with rental assistance, 30% affordable, 20% market rate) Developer: Portland Housing Development Corp. Architect, contractor: CWS Architects, Wright- Ryan Construction Construction timeline: Early May start Affordable housing projects in pre-construction MAINE HOUSING FACTS S O U R C E : National Income Housing Coalition, "Out of Reach: The HIgh Cost of Housing 2018." In Maine, the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $974. To afford this level of rent and utilities — without paying more than 30% of income on housing — a household must earn $3,247 monthly of $38,966 annually. Assuming a 40-year work week, 52 weeks a year, this level of income translates into an hourly housing wage as listed below. $11.00 $11.44 $18.73 Minimum wage Average renter wage 2-bdrm. housing wage R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y S Z A N T O N C O. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y C W S A R C H I T E C T S

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