Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 F E B R UA R Y 9 , 2 0 2 6 F O C U S C O M M E R C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T Dead Ship of Harpswell," refers to "Old shipwrights sit in Freeport yards / Who hewed her oaken frame." Key parcel Bacon lives in Freeport and drives by the site daily. "We think it will be appealing across the board, but particularly for young professionals, single individuals and/or empty nesters," he says. He adds, "We think it's a great location for people who might be, say, working in downtown Freeport and/ or just want the amenities of living in a small downtown." e location was identified by the town as a key parcel for housing development. "Elected officials, volunteer board members and town staff have worked hard over the last year to create pre- dictable approval processes for great projects like the Dash, and it was very affirming to see residents stand up, one after the other, to voice their support for new housing in Freeport," says Brett Richardson, the town's development director. e goal is to make the down- town a great place to live. "e Dash is great for the commu- nity because it will diversify the type of housing units we have available in town," Richardson says. We'll have folks living right downtown who will add vibrancy to the community." Other housing is in the pipeline, including Varney Heights Senior Apartments, off Lower Main Street. But within the downtown proper, the Dash is the first multi-unit housing project in many years. "We're focused on areas where, essentially, people can conveniently access the downtown within a five- to 10-minute bike ride or a 20-minute walk," says Richardson. "Both are great projects," he adds. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Construction Managers & General Contractors | consigli.com Building Maine's Most Complex Projects East Brown Cow Fore Street Garage LEARN MORE Business Property and Liability Insurance Products Cyber and Data Breach Liability Insurance Employment Practices Liability Insurance, EPLI & Equipment and Mechanical Breakdown INSURING MAINE BUSINESS — INSURING MAINE PEOPLE We've been in business more than 145 years, and continue to innovate by providing you a portfolio that offers the kind of protection your business needs — today. Visit Patrons.com to find an independent agent near you. INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY'S BUSINESS CHALLENGES. Housing sampler New York City real estate firm Blue Hour Housing entered the Maine mar- ket to convert a motel at 2 Gorges Road in Kittery into 108 units of "missing middle" rental apartments. Blue Hour seeks favorable zoning and prices low enough for a conver- sion that will yield affordable rents. MidCoast Regional Housing Trust received a land and buildings dona- tion in Rockport from Maine Coast Heritage Trust to create year-round, attainable housing for local median- income workers in Knox County. In Belfast, the Woodlands is a pro- posed 200-unit condominium develop- ment on a 35-acre in-town lot. Waldo Community Action Partners plans to build Belmont Avenue Apartments, an affordable 60-unit multifamily dwelling building at 45 Belmont Ave. Northern Forest Center's year-long, $1.8 million redevelopment of a cen- tury-old building, providing five apart- ments and two commercial spaces, is wrapping up at 196 Penobscot Ave. in downtown Millinocket. "These new apartments are meet- ing a crucial need in the region for year-round, middle-market rental housing," says Mike Wilson, senior program director. South Portland Housing Develop- ment Corp. and South Portland Housing Authority last fall unveiled the Betsy Ross Crossing Apartments, a 52-unit affordable housing develop- ment for adults aged 55 and older, at 101 Preble St. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F M & R D E V E L O P M E N T Freeport approved ground-up construction of a 51-unit apartment building on the corner of Depot and Mill streets, currently used as a parking lot.

• Cover