Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X V I I I A U G U S T 1 9 , 2 0 2 4 12 G R E AT E R B A N G O R / N O R T H E R N M A I N E A bout 2 miles north of down- town Bangor near the Essex Woods, a new neighborhood is emerging on 12 acres that stood vacant for years. Despite a delayed start and other hurdles, duplexes are going up at a fast clip, with 13 units occupied so far in the Maine Woods Townhomes, touted as a "transformative and vibrant develop- ment addressing the need for affordable, quality homes." ree-bedroom units are priced at up to $270,000. Residents include Jacob Erskine, a 31-year-old Bangor Savings Bank information technology employee who moved into a place in June. "It's a huge weight lifted off my shoulders because I don't have to worry about rent anymore," says Erskine, a first-time homeowner for whom free cable and wireless connectivity were big selling points. He also likes his neigh- bors, many of whom are fellow young professionals, and appreciates the pause in building work on weekends and other times when he's at home. When construction wraps up by the end of 2025, the development will be home to 30 duplexes. Maine Woods is among nine approved residential projects under development or construc- tion in Bangor that will add a combined 367 units of living space. ey cover categories from market rate to afford- able senior housing, along with the city's first tiny-home community of 16 units being developed by Louie Morrison on Hammond Street. "e hundreds of new housing units in the works are a good start, but the city understands that much work remains in promoting an array of housing opportunities," says Anne Krieg, Bangor's director of economic and community development. "e City Council continues to approve new projects, zoning changes, building requirements and other measures all to create more housing for people." As this article went to press, the city was still seeking a developer for the Grandview project to build up to 100 units of housing on 10 acres of city- owned land. "We are excited to take this approach to helping build more units, and in this case, missing 'middle' housing," for households that are priced out of market-rate housing but make too much to receive subsidies for higher-density buildings or neigh- borhoods, Krieg says. "Missing middle housing is remi- niscent of townhouse-like develop- ments whereby the scale of develop- ment creates an intimate walkable Building homes in Bangor Residential developers, local officials tackle the Queen City's housing gap B y R e n e e C o r d e s F O C U S Location Type Status Units Milford St. Ext. Affordable senior housing Under construction 40 Larkin St. Market rate Under construction 4 Lancaster Ave. Market rate Under construction 60 Broadway Market rate Under construciton 60 Fruit St. Market rate Not yet started 4 Ohio St. Market rate Under construction 44 Cleveland St. Permanent supportive housing Under construction 41 Hammond St. Tiny Home Park Under construction 16 Sunset Ave. Affordable senior housing Fall 2024 est. start 50 BANGOR'S HOUSING PIPELINE DWELLING UNITS COMPLETED FY 2024 72 N O T E : Market-rate housing refers to non-subsidized properties that are rented or owned by those who pay market-rate rents or who paid market value to purchase the property. Unlike subsidized affordable housing, market-rate housing does not confer special government benefits. S O U R C E : City of Bangor FY 2023 85 P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Two-family homes under construction in the Maine Woods Townhomes development in Bangor.

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