Everyone deserves a place to call home.

Where Nature, Community, and Affordability Meet

25 new affordable homes for older adults opening in Farmington

The need for safe, quality, affordable housing isn’t constrained by zip codes, so neither is Avesta Housing’s work. We are proud to announce that at 1 p.m. Feb. 25, we will celebrate the opening of Edgewater Village, our first development in Farmington, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This new community features 25 new affordable homes for residents ages 55 and older, and represents an investment in community, sustainability, and dignity for older adults in rural Maine.

Designed by Kaplan Thompson Architects and constructed by E.W. Littlefield & Sons, Edgewater Village is nestled in a peaceful landscape featuring a pond, surrounding woodlands, and walking trails that encourage daily activity and a close relationship with nature. At the same time, residents are just a mile away from downtown Farmington and essential amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, dining, fitness, and health care, supporting independence while reducing transportation barriers that often challenge older adults.

Each one-bedroom apartment includes energy-efficient appliances and bathrooms designed with grab bars and extra space for ease of mobility. On-site amenities include a welcoming community room for gatherings and programs, parking, free snow removal, a laundry room, and utilities that are included in rent – features that simplify daily life and provide predictability for residents on fixed incomes.

Edgewater Village reflects Avesta Housing’s commitment to build homes that are not only affordable but healthy, resilient, and rooted in the needs of the community. It offers more than housing – it offers a place to thrive in the next chapter of life. Click below for more information and to apply.

Don’t want to wait? Attend one of our Edgewater open houses!

Avesta is hosting weekly open houses at Edgewater Village. Visit the campus, tour an apartment, submit an application on the spot, and take the first steps toward a new chapter in a beautiful home designed to accommodate your needs. The next open house is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Edgewater Village is located 126 Willow Springs Drive, Farmington, ME 04938. Email info@aveatahousing.org for more information.

New workforce housing approved for Freeport

Artist rendering of Depot Terraces, a new Domus development for middle-income workers near downtown Freeport, Maine.

On Jan. 21, the Town of Freeport’s project review board approved plans for Depot Terraces, a new workforce housing development by Domus. Located in downtown Freeport on Depot Street, Depot Terraces will provide new high-quality condominiums for 45 households in a municipality where people are increasingly unable to afford to live where they work.

A partnership of Avesta Housing, longtime Maine real estate developer Jack Soley, and the family-owned construction firm Hebert Construction, Domus was launched last year specifically to create new homes for middle-income workers in Maine – the "missing middle" who are being squeezed out of the housing market while seeing their rents rise beyond what they can afford.

Deport Terraces is the second workforce housing development by Domus. Construction on the first – Clover Terraces in Westbrook – is underway and scheduled for completion in 2027.

Click below for more information about Clover Terraces, including prices and availability.

Artist rendering of Clover Terraces

What is Domus, and how does it work? Discover more on ‘207’

Domus principals Jack Soley, Avesta Housing President & CEO Jennifer Hawkins, and Hebert Construction COO Simon Hebert were recently interviewed by News Center Maine’s Rob Caldwell for the “207” news show, where they discussed the concept behind the Domus partnership and how it addresses the workforce housing shortage in Maine.

Click below to view the episode. (The Domus segment begins around the 13-minute mark).

L-R: Jack Soley, Simon Hebert, Jennifer Hawkins and Rob Caldwell on "207"

Advocating Where It Counts: Turning Policy Into Homes

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (left) and Avesta Housing President & CEO Jennifer Hawkins at The New England Council "Capitol Hill Report." (Photo courtesy The New England Council)

Advocating for funding and policies that support affordable housing is critical to our work. On Jan. 21, Avesta Housing President & CEO Jennifer Hawkins and Ryan Fecteau, senior development officer of planning and partnerships, were featured panelists at a housing symposium hosted by Greater Portland Council of Governments in Portland. Titled “Making Housing Happen: Teamwork, Tools, and Infrastructure,” the symposium focused on practical strategies for supporting new housing while ensuring that development aligns with community priorities and long-term goals.

Also on Jan. 21, Senior Development Officer Nate Howes presented testimony in Augusta in support of a bill before the Legislature that would make the affordable housing income tax credit permanent. Created in 2019 and set to expire in 2028, the tax credit has been a valuable funding resource for affordable housing development, including two recent Avesta properties. You can read Nate’s testimony and watch a video of the public hearing here.

On Jan. 23, Jennifer attended The New England Council’s “Capitol Hill Report” program in Manchester, New Hampshire, featuring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Jennifer urged the senator to support changes to the Build America, Buy America program that support affordable housing, preserve mobile home parks, and protect Continuum of Care funding to provide housing and supportive services to people who have experienced chronic homelessness. Click here to watch a video of the program (affordable housing is discussed at the 17-minute mark).

Senior Development Officer Nate Howes testifies in support of a bill to permanently extend Maine's affordable housing income tax credit. (Photo courtesy State of Maine)