A housing project anticipated to be an important economic driver for the rural Oxford county town of Rumford has been stalled with the recent cancellation by Sunday River Resort of an arrangement to lease apartments expressly developed for its employees.
A housing project that was expected to house employees of Sunday River Resort in the Oxford County town of Rumford has fallen through — and now the developer has filed suit.
High Tide Capital filed a lawsuit on June 25 in Oxford County Superior Court claiming the ski area backed out of a verbal agreement to build out more than 60 apartments in two buildings in downtown Rumford.
Sunday River, which has 500-plus year-round employees and up to 1,200 seasonal employees, was expected to lease the units for employee housing. The resort is close to 20 miles from Rumford.
The arrangement had been in the works for two years. The two parties had not signed a contract, though High Tide was repeatedly promised that a contract would be forthcoming, according to the 20-page complaint.
According to the lawsuit, High Tide was expected to develop 12 apartments at 119 Congress St., six of which would be leased by the ski resort for five years, and, at 118 Congress St., 55 bedrooms along with a communal kitchen, dining and gathering spaces, for a period of 10 years.
The total cost to redevelop the two properties was estimated to be $11 million.
Based on its understanding that the project would move forward, High Tide purchased the former Key Bank building at 119 Congress St. as well as 118 Congress St. in November 2023. Financing was to include a $600,000 commitment from the town of Rumford.
Construction at 119 Congress was completed by the date promised to Sunday River — Nov. 1, 2025 — according to the filing, but days before the planned occupancy date, the ski resort notified High Tide that the deal was off.
No reason for the change was given, according to the complaint, and Sunday River has not taken occupancy or paid High Tide any of the verbally agreed-upon rents.
Sunday River response
Representatives from Sunday River responded to Mainebiz’s request for a comment with a statement from Ellen Wainwright, director of communications for the resort.
“We understand the importance of housing in our community and are committed to exploring the right opportunities. However, Sunday River does not comment on open litigation," Wainwright said.
The property is owned by Michigan-based Boyne Resorts, which operates 12 resort properties including 10 ski resorts and 12 golf courses. In addition to Sunday River, in Maine Boyne owns Sugarloaf Resort and Pleasant Mountain.
Middle ground?
High Tide principal Dash Davidson told Mainebiz that High Tide is hopeful that the two parties can mediate their dispute and move forward with the project.
“The lawsuit is just a means to an end for us,” he said. “We would still love to do what we said we were going to do for Rumford.
“We care deeply about these rural communities. This type of project is what High Tide is all about — turning the lights back on in these historic properties.”
High Tide's other Maine projects include
the Spinning Mill in Skowhegan, three buildings in downtown Bangor and two apartment complexes in Orono.
Davidson said his company is currently attempting to lease the 12 finished apartments at 119 Congress St., though it may be difficult.
“This is an example of the challenges of building housing in Maine’s rural communities. You can’t just build something on spec because they are so hard to finance. And there isn’t the market for housing here like there is in Portland," he said.
“This is one of the poorest municipalities in the state. The economics don’t support this type of development.”
What's ahead
Unless Sunday River reverses course, Davidson said High Tide may not move forward with the redevelopment of 118 Congress St., the upper floors of which have been vacant for close to 50 years. Bangor Savings Bank currently occupies the ground floor.
A former Odd Fellows Hall, the 20,000-square-foot building has large open ballrooms, Davidson said, on two of the upper floors, making the space very difficult to redevelop for housing — but which suited Sunday River’s desire for creating communal spaces for its team members.
“We may have to pack it up and sell the building, though we’re trying to do everything we can to save the deal,” Davidson said.
George O’Keefe, who is town manager and economic development director for Rumford, is also hopeful the project can move forward as planned.
O’Keefe told Mainebiz the positive economic impact of the revitalization of two landmark buildings in Rumford’s downtown would be “truly exceptional. Both buildings had not seen meaningful upstairs occupancy in about half a century.”
The buildings were both built in 1910.
“Our greatest hope has been that new residential upstairs occupancy will translate into increased footfall at local restaurants and retail establishments,” O’Keefe said, “thus helping to support, stabilize and grow our existing businesses.”
Rumford’s population showed growth in the 2020 census for the first time in a decennial count since 1960, O’Keefe noted, reversing a population loss which had averaged close to 9% every 10 years from 1960 to 2010.
The 2020 census recorded 5,858 residents, and by July 2025, that number had climbed to 6,025.
“Our largest regional employer is Sunday River with around 500-plus year-round employees and close to 1,000 to 1,200 seasonal employees,” O’Keefe said.
ND Paper’s Rumford Mill is a close second at 475 full-time employees.
“We believe Sunday River employees represent the perfect demographic for downtown occupancy and are still very hopeful to see them here in town soon.”
Roy T. Pierce and David P. Ginzer, attorneys with the Portland-based law firm of Jensen Baird, are representing High Tide Capital in the lawsuit.
