Everyone deserves a place to call home.

Revitalizing Homes, Strengthening Communities

Preserving existing quality homes is an important piece of tackling the housing crisis. Across Maine, we see aging homes that reflect the impact of a harsh climate and deferred maintenance, requiring significant updates before they can be called safe, quality homes. At Avesta, we’re meeting this challenge head-on by investing in the homes we already have—ensuring they continue to remain safe, comfortable, and affordable for years to come.

Right now in Kittery, Maine, we’re in the midst of a major renovation at Foxwell, a community for older adults that was built in the late 1970s and acquired by Avesta in 2012. The upgrades are extensive: new siding and roofing, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, and refreshed apartments with new flooring, paint, cabinets, countertops, and appliances. We’re also adding ADA units and installing Energy Recovery Ventilators that will improve indoor air quality and making upgrades to shared spaces, including the community room.

This work doesn’t stop in Kittery. We’re in the process of upgrading  more than 200 apartments while extending affordability covenants to ensure they remain affordable for decades to come.

To learn more, listen to a recent episode of Greater Portland Council of Governments' “Let’s Connect Greater Portland” podcast featuring our president & CEO, Jen Hawkins, and Stuart “Tuck” O’Brien, former executive director of Maine Redevelopment.

“If we just keep producing new housing but letting our old housing stock fall into disrepair and eventually get torn down, it’s a zero-sum game,” said Jen. “If I had a magic wand, we would not neglect preservation efforts.”

Partnering for Portland’s Youth: Avesta and Boys & Girls Clubs

Artist rendering of Avesta Housing's new development at 15-19 Cedar Street, Portland

Earlier this year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine announced that it was donating land on Cedar Street in Portland to us as part of our strategic partnership to provide more services and homes to youths and their families. This generous gift will allow us to create 30 new homes and continue the work of Avesta, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other partners to support the long-term vitality of the neighborhood.

We asked Colleen Cooper, chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, to answer three questions related to this donation and our shared vision. Click below to read the Q&A.

Colleen Cooper

Artist rendering of the Boys & Girls Club campus expansion in Portland

Join Us for a Jane’s Walk Celebrating Affordable Housing

At 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, we will host a 90-minute walking tour of four of our affordable housing properties in downtown Portland as part of Jane’s Walk, a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs.

Discover how affordable housing is shaping Portland—often in ways you might not notice—by visiting Avesta communities that combine sustainability, thoughtful design, and resident support to redefine what affordable housing can be: Oak Street Lofts, a LEED Platinum-certified home for artists; 409 Cumberland, featuring a rooftop greenhouse and teaching kitchen; 89 Elm Street, part of a major Bayside redevelopment; and Unity at Bayside, a community built around shared outdoor space and connection.

The walk is ADA-accessible and includes indoor stops. Click below for more information.

Discover Affordable Homeownership at Clover Terraces

Don't forget to take advantage of the informational open houses for Clover Terraces!



Scheduled to open in Westbrook in 2027, Clover Terraces is the first workforce housing development by Domus Dwellings that will offer exceptional quality one- and two-bedroom condos at a price point affordable to middle-income homebuyers.

Click below to view the open house schedule and to learn more about our Domus Dwelling initiative and Clover Terraces condominiums.

Candidates for U.S. Senate Visit 75 State Street

U.S. Senate candidates Gov. Janet Mills (left) and Graham Platner speak at 75 State Street

Candidates in this year’s race for U.S. Senate were recently invited to speak at 75 State Street, our assisted living community in Portland, by its Current Affairs Group. Formed by and consisting entirely of residents, the group meets regularly to discuss political issues and current events.

Two Maine Democratic Senate candidates—Gov. Janet Mills and Graham Platner—separately visited and engaged in discussion with residents about issues ranging from rising inflation, affordable housing, and the war in Iran to funding for safety nets for older adults such as Medicare and Social Security.