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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 23 J U LY 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 E than Boxer-Macomber, founder of Anew Development, wanted to convert an old school into housing, while focusing on the advantages of being within walking and biking distance to area services in South Portland. He used what are known as "smart growth" prin- ciples for the development of Meetinghouse Lofts, a project he completed at 341 Pine St. e project, which won 2016 Historic Preservation Award from Greater Portland Landmarks in the Adaptive Reuse Category, was a redevelopment of the former Roosevelt School, which opened in 1927 but had been vacant since 2012. Boxer-Macomber expanded the original 18,000-square-foot masonry building by two-thirds and created 19 market-rate condo units, ranging from the middle $200,000s to the high $300,000s. "It's a great example of a project that demonstrates smart growth in action," says Boxer-Macomber, a member of GrowSmart Maine's board of directors. "Nineteen households are within walking and biking proximity to a comprehensive array of goods and ser- vice — the Mill Creek shopping district, recreation, entertainment. At the same time, living within an established neighborhood brings residents closer to each other and to the neighborhood around them." High density, human scale Smart growth principles are gaining cachet in Portland and elsewhere in Maine, as developers and planners alike look to create human-scale com- munities that incorporate forward-looking social, economic and environmental considerations. According to Smart Growth America, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofi t, smart growth is a pro-development approach "that encourages a mix of building types and uses, diverse housing and transportation options, development within exist- ing neighborhoods, and community engagement." Strategies include high-density land use, infi ll and effi cient transportation links. e trend is a response to millennials, baby boom- ers and others fl ocking to cities with, on the other hand, a rejection of decades of suburban sprawl. In Maine, two nonprofi ts, GrowSmart Maine in Gardiner and Build Maine in Lewiston, are providing resources, networking opportunities and demonstration projects. "We're at a great moment for smart growth," says GrowSmart Maine's community outreach director, Tyler Kidder. "People appreciate the value of a livable community, and the features of a livable community almost always tie back to smart-growth principles." Smart-growth principles, she says, "encourage us to grow without destroying what we love about any place. It allows choices in where we live, work and play, and in how we travel." She cites transportation choices, housing in a range of prices and investment that supports P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Maine style 'Smart' growth sought to ease space crunch B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » What is smart growth? Smart growth principles include: Mix land uses Take advantage of compact building design Create a range of housing opportunities and choices Create walkable neighborhoods Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities Provide a variety of transportation choices Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions S O U R C E : GrowSmart Maine F O C U S Ethan Boxer-Macomber of Anew Development at Meetinghouse Lofts in South Portland.

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