Cape Elizabeth greenlights mixed-use affordable housing development

A rare affordable housing project for Cape Elizabeth’s town center has been granted planning board approval, with only minor changes and no objections from the community during a 30-day appeals process. The town has traditionally been cautious about new developments in the town center, but the property is zoned for commercial/residential use. No variances were needed. The 18-unit Cape Commons apartment building, to be built by Portland-based GreenMars Real Estate, will be priced to be affordable to households earning up to 80% of the area median income, often referred to as workforce or missing middle housing. In addition to offering a mix of studio and one-and two-bedroom apartments, the three-story, 15,000-square-foot complex will also provide 2,000-square-feet of retail space, divided between two storefronts. Six of the apartments will be offered as 700-square-foot, two-story live-work units, for residents who want to operate a studio, creative practice or small business from home, a concept which Planning Board Chair Andrew Gilbert praised during the review process. The three-quarter acre lot to be developed is in the center of town, next door to town hall. It’s been empty for decades, after once housing a gas station. It had been approved in 2004 for a similar development to what GreenMars is planning by Isis Development LLC, owned by Paul Woods, but the project never broke ground. “I think everyone in town has really wanted to see that parcel redeveloped for a long time. It’s been dormant for more than 20 years," Town Manager Patrick Fox told Mainebiz. “One of our big economic development goals has been to create a more vibrant town center to support retail and restaurants,” Fox said. “Our 2019 Comprehensive Plan calls for diversifying housing choices, adding more small businesses, more gathering places, more vibrancy. None of that can happen without more housing density. “There’s a lot of excitement about what the project will bring to the town center," he added. There are currently 16 affordable apartments in Cape, with four more under development. Additionally a 35-unit apartment project, called Center Court, was approved for a lot behind town hall, but that hasn’t yet gone under construction. “We’re pleased that Cape Elizabeth’s Planning Board recognized the project as an opportunity to expand the town’s affordable housing supply and return a long-vacant property to productive use,” said Oscar Wilkerson, development operations specialist at GreenMars. “We look forward to creating new homes and supporting small businesses in a manner that respects the beauty and character of the village center.” The building will include access to 51 parking spaces, both behind the complex and in the adjacent town hall lot. GreenMars expects to begin construction in 2027.