🔒Midcoast Habitat for Humanity buys larger space in Rockport
Midcoast Habitat for Humanity staff stand in front of their new home at the iconic Down East magazine building, in Rockport. PHOTO / COURTESY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Midcoast Habitat for Humanity has purchased a seven-acre property at 680 Commercial St. in Rockport.
The affordable housing nonprofit, currently located at 799 West St. in Rockport, bought the property for $1.45 million and plans to move both its offices and its ReStore retail store into the larger space this month.
The seller is the owner of Down East magazine, which will remain in the space as a tenant.
“In a rural region like ours, organizations are often spread out and not always connected,” said Tia Anderson, the nonprofit’s executive director. “By bringing partners together under one roof, we can strengthen communication, reduce duplication of services and better support the people we collectively serve.”
The lot includes three buildings, totaling 31,720 square feet. Habitat will move its offices into the circa-1900 main building and lease space on the third floor to Down East magazine.
Midcoast Habitat for Humanity’s new home at 680 Commercial St. in Rockport. The warehouse at left will become an expanded ReStore, while the main building will house administrative offices. PHOTO / COURTESY OF MIDCOAST HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
The attached 6,800-square-foot warehouse will be the new home for the organization’s ReStore, which sells home goods, furnishings and tools to help fund operations. The new location provides a bigger retail footprint, greater capacity for donations and improved accessibility and parking for customers.
The organization purchased the former estate, known as Roxmont, from Down East Enterprise Inc. Down East President Robert Fernald first listed the property in 2020, saying at the time that post-pandemic office space needs had changed. Malone Commercial Brokers took over the listing in 2024, asking $2.3 million.
“This move reflects real growth, real momentum and real need here in Knox County,” said Anderson. “Because of the incredible support from our community, we are building more affordable homes than ever, and we need the space to keep up."
Housing in the works
Midcoast Habitat for Humanity is building 10 single-family homes on a 3.82-acre property at 270 Commercial St. in Rockport, called Compass Point. Other recent housing projects have included two homes at 47 and 49 Lawn Avenue in Rockland and 12 homes at Philbrook Commons, also in Rockland.
The organization's current location on Route 90 has been listed for sale.
Midcoast Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1990 and is affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International.
