$16M expansion at Betsy Ross House in South Portland will add 52 affordable apartments

PHOTO / TINA FISCHER More affordable housing is being built on Preble Street in South Portland.

Write a Comment

The 123-unit Betsy Ross House apartment building in South Portland is getting a new neighbor — Betsy Ross Crossing, which will add 52 affordable apartments at 10 Preble St.

The original seven-story complex was built in 1999 to provide apartments for residents ages 62 and older.

The new five-story, 45,000-square-foot attached sister building will offer subsidized housing for a slightly younger population, 55 and up, whose household income totals no more than 60% of the area median income.

The majority of the apartments will be one-bedroom dwellings, ranging in size from 564 to 613 square feet, and renting for an average of $1,332 per month. Just one two-bedroom unit will be available, at 907 square feet, with a monthly rent of $1,592.

South Portland Housing Development Corp. is prioritizing applicants who are on a Section 8 or public housing waiting list, people who live or work in South Portland and veterans.

The building will contain laundry facilities and a community room, with a noontime meal plan option. Located at end of Preble Street, the complex is adjacent to greenbelt trails and close to Bug Light Park and Southern Maine Community College.

Zachau Construction Co., of Freeport, is the builder and CHA Consulting Inc., of Portland, is the architectural design team.

The estimated $16 million project is being financed through MaineHousing and the South Portland Housing Development Corp. It’s expected to be ready for occupancy this summer.