Courtesy / Avesta Housing
Dana Totman, is an avid hiker and was the first person from Maine to solo hike the entire Appalachian Trail.
June 20, 2022
Avesta opens $15.3M Deering Place affordable housing development in Portland
Courtesy / Avesta Housing
Deering Place in Portland will feature 75 units of affordable and market-rate housing.
By Jessica Hall
Nonprofit housing developer Avesta Housing this week officially open the doors to Deering Place, a new 75-unit, $15.3 million, affordable housing complex in downtown Portland.
Deering Place, which also includes some market-rate units, consists of three apartment buildings on adjacent lots in Portland’s Parkside neighborhood: 63 Deering St., a new building; 61 Deering St., a renovated apartment building; and 510 Cumberland Ave., an adaptive reuse of an existing building with a new addition and enclosed parking.
“At a time when housing costs are soaring to record heights in Maine, we are proud to provide safe, quality, affordable homes in the heart of the state’s largest city to a diverse population,” said Avesta Housing president and CEO Dana Totman. “Deering Place exemplifies our mission that everyone deserves a place to call home.”
Avesta Housing, headquartered in Portland, is the developer, owner, property manager and resident service provider. Zachau Construction of Freeport served as general contractor, and architectural design was provided by Archetype Architects of Portland.
Construction on all three buildings incorporated sustainable design practices for maximum energy efficiency, the developers said.
Residents of all ages will have access to onsite amenities including a community room, laundry facilities and a restricted access parking garage. The city’s Parkside Community Policing office is located onsite, and the campus is close to schools, medical facilities, public transit, retail, dining and recreational areas.
The addition of affordable homes comes at a time when need for them has never been greater.
In 2021, 6,231 people applied for housing assistance through Avesta, a 32% increase from 2020. Around 34% of all applicants identified as being homeless. The nonprofit was able to house less than 8% of them.
Avesta Housing operates 109 affordable properties and two assisted-living facilities, providing safe, affordable homes for more than 4,600 people.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments