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September is heating up on the housing front as preliminary approvals are on the horizon for Gorham, Portland, and Cumberland. However, the Yard South project in South Portland is facing some resistance. Exciting news for Gorham: Big Moose Harley Davidson is set to open at the former Lake Region Furniture site, bringing new business to the area.
We have crucial City Council races coming up, particularly in Portland and South Portland. Early in-person voting kicks off on October 7th, so mark your calendars! Notably, we have two REALTORS® running for local Council seats in Gorham and Portland!
Stay tuned for more updates!
Highlights:
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Cape Elizabeth
Cumberland
Falmouth
Freeport
- Freeport Housing Workshop 9/23
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Presentation on Freeport's housing data, session will include discussion on Freeport's housing needs, potential locations for new housing, the impact of new housing on the town, and strategies to encourage development. More information here
- Future Land Use Workshop 11/18
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North Star Planning will lead a workshop on Freeport's priorities concerning preservation, growth, and new development, more information here
- Preliminary Subdivision plans for an Affordable Housing Development on a portion of land with frontage on Varney Road - Forty-two dwelling units
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Freeport Climate Action Plan here.
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Freeport Comprehensive Plan Update here.
- Open Seats
- Council 2
- Town Councilor-At-Large:
- Town Councilor-District 4
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Voting Districts here
- Calendar and agendas here
Gorham
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Initial approval for Gorham Village development; White Birch (Robie Project) Lane still in works, tentative approval to move forward with Phase 1, with the understanding it may be revoked Covered here by the Press Herald
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Gorham town council voted to extend White Birch Lane, adding a fourth access road to the new development in hopes of spreading out the new traffic, Covered here
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Gorham Country Club into 284 housing units, plus space for commercial property, covered here
- Hurdles- Gorham’s Growth Ordinance - Gorham limits developers so they can only build 10 single family homes per year, which means it will take several years for all 44 homes to be built.
- Economic Dev Update:
- Tractor Supply was in front of the planning board for West Gorham
- Big Moose Harley has closed on the Lake Region Furniture building but I have not seen any construction yet.
- Bisson Moving and Storage has not closed yet in the new industrial park but they’re still moving forward.
- The town council also forwarded to the Ordinance Committee, for review and recommendation, amending the Growth Management Ordinance to allow for exemptions for smaller dwelling units of 1,000 square feet or less in Gorham’s growth areas within 1,000 feet of a public transit route that do not generally promote higher enrollment in the Gorham School Department, and factoring in revenue positive developments when reviewing exceptions
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Phase 1 of Robie Street housing project awaiting approval covered here by the Press Herald
- Gorham has two town council seats up at the upcoming election.
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Candidates: James Hager Jr., Janet Kuech, George Vercelli and David Willis (REALTOR) Covered here by the Portland Press
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Town Council agendas
Gray
New Gloucester
North Yarmouth
Portland
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GreenMars pitch a second condo complex with accessory dwelling units 100 units at 410-418 Auburn St., in an area that has traditionally been home to single-families covered here by the Press Herald
- City cuts ribbon on Front St- East Deering affordable housing redevelopment Portland Housing Authority’s 105-unit project
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Planning Board Approval: 482 Congress Street Planning Board approved a Major Site Plan application for a change of use at 482 Congress Street from Class-B office to 39 residential units, including 10 workforce housing units. The five-story building is in close proximity to Monument Square
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The Portland City Council on Monday approved a no-interest loan of just over $1 million from the city's housing trust fund to Youth and Family Outreach to expand its child care and build affordable housing on the corner of Cumberland Avenue and Preble Street 48 affordable 12 market- Covered here by the Press Herald
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The City of Portland’s 2023-2024 HUD Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is now available for review and comment online here.
- ReCode - Final Draft Land Use Code + Zoning Map
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Planning staff published the final drafts of the land use code and zoning map. Still time to tell us what you think, dig into the final draft code and map here. Public hearing on ReCode on Tuesday, September 24.
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City Announces Allowable Rent Increases Per CPI for Calendar Year 2025- Based on the most recent available data from the Bureau of Labor Standards, from July 2023 to July 2024, the CPI-U for the greater Boston metro area advanced 3.5%. Therefore, the Allowable Increase Percentage for calendar year 2025 is 2.5%. Read the full update.
- Revaluation - Find the Details On New Website
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Make sure you complete the revaluation data mailer that was sent out recently. Information about the revaluation process is available on a new website where residents can learn more + view a sample data mailer. Data mailers for condominiums will be sent in the next few weeks. Property owners are encouraged to visit the site and contact the Assessor’s Office with questions.
- Portland Rent Board District 5 Position open
- Portland Open Seats
- Portland Council Candidates here
- District 1
- Todd Morse (Urbanist Coalition Portland) District 1
- District 2
- Catherine Nekoi District 2, REALTOR
- Nancy English
- Atiim Boykin
- Wes Pelletier DSA
- At-Large
- Brandon Mazer At-Large
- Grayson Lookner DSA At-Large
- Jacob Viola
- Paul Lewis
- Ben Grant
- Jessica Falero DSA
- Meeting schedule here
Pownal
Scarborough
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STR- Draft Short Term Rental Registration ordinance Town Manager asked if we wanted to be listed as a stakeholder group to review proposal - She thinks this will get pushed to next year
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The South Portland Housing Authority has cut the ribbon on a brand new affordable housing community catering to residents over the age of 55. Located on Little Dolphin Drive off Route 1 in Scarborough, Jocelyn Place boasts 60 units and promises to be both affordable, with rents ranging from $1,000 to $1,200 per month, and green, earning a "Passive House" certification for its energy efficiency. Covered here
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Village Commons had a ribbon cutting for 31 new affordable homes in Scarborough 55+ - Covered by MaineBiz here.
- The following Town Meetings will have public comment on the Gorham Connector:
- 9/18 Connector Workshop
- The following candidates will appear on the ballot:
- Town Council (2 Seats for a 3-Year term to expire 2027)
- Fellows, Cory R.
- Maurer, Crescencia
- Donovan, William J.
- Doherty, Scott W.
- The 2024-2025 property tax rate has been set new tax rate is now set at $10.93 per $1,000 of property value for the 2025 fiscal year
- Tax Commitment Report here
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Town Council agendas.
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Planning Board agendas.
South Portland
Westbrook
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Three vie for Westbrook Mayor covered here by the Press Herald
- Lynda Adams and Lawrence "Larry" McWilliams are challenging acting Mayor David Morse for the remainder of former Mayor Michael Foley's term, expiring next year.
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A four-story affordable housing complex for residents 55 and older is nearing completion, and Westbrook Housing Executive Director Chris LaRoche expects the 55-unit building will fill up fast, Covered here by the Press Herald
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In Westbrook, two affordable housing complexes are nearing completion- Two separate Westbrook apartment complexes are in the final stages of construction, and will add 115 total units of affordable housing to the city by this fall Covered by MaineBiz here
- Tax Rate: $14.75 per thousand dollars of the Assessment Ratio Valuation for fiscal year 2024-2025
- Meeting and events calendar.
Windham
- The Town of Windham is seeking proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the former John A. Andrew School site located in the South Windham Village at 55 High Street, Windham, Maine. The desired outcome of this project is a residential property that will function as a catalyst in the revitalization of the South Windham Village.
- Windham Annual Report here
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Windham’s strategic economic development plan here.
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Windham Building Growth Ordinance here.
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Windham Energy Plan available here
- Council Seats
- 3-year Town Council At-Large
- 3-year Town Council West District
- Tax Rate Set for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The Council set the tax rate for the fiscal year 2024-2025 at $11.47 per $1,000 of assessed value.
- Meeting calendar here.
Yarmouth
Other Communities
- Still keeping a close eye on:
- OOB Petition Rent Control for Mobile home Parks
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See petition here Covered here
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Brunswick/Mid-Coast- Monitoring
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Biddeford - Monitoring the Council for rent control
Other State/National
- Gorham Connector
- Gorham connector on pause, but Maine Turnpike Authority still says it's needed
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Estimated cost is up, while traffic counts are down- Opponents of the proposed four-lane toll highway from South Portland to Gorham raise additional concerns about the Maine Turnpike Authority project. Covered here by the Press Herald
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Community group opposing Gorham Connector discusses alternatives - A coalition run by volunteers, Mainers for Smarter Transportation, held a community forum about the Gorham Connector, with all present opposing it Covered by the Press Herald here.
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NAR Launches Pro-Property Platform - here
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Maine State Chamber Election Outlook Zoom - More info here
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The 2024 Energy Code Features More Flexibility for Builders - The International Code Council (ICC) published the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on Aug. 14 Covered here by the National Assoc of Home Builders
- Buildings, Infrastructure and Housing Working Group
- 2024 Draft Climate Strategies & Survey
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The Maine Climate Council Buildings Working Groups 2024 Recommendations mention the 2021 IECC a number of times
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The Climate Council is doing a series of public meetings in September to hear feedback in addition to the online survey.
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Great Maine Neighborhoods housing Data by GPCOG here
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Maine communities are relying on this tool to bring about economic growth - Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, districts use taxes generated through an increase in property value to invest in local development projects, Covered here
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5 Democrats are already jockeying to be Maine’s next House speaker, Covered by the BDN here
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Mills Administration and MaineHousing launch statewide housing data portal here
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The Growing Federal Push For Zoning Reform covered here by Bloomberg
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