If it makes it through the planning and finance process, a new development of 48 affordable and market-rate rental apartments is expected to help fill the city of Belfast’s housing shortage.
Developers Collaborative of Portland has proposed the project on approximately 4.3 acres at 115 Congress St., in a zoning district that allows multifamily housing.
The site was formerly home to the city’s public works facility.
Environmental cleanup and demolition of the facility took place in 2020 in order to prepare the site for redevelopment. At that time, the mayor and City Council determined the highest and best use of this property was for workforce housing and entered discussions with Developers Collaborative, according to a post by the city on its Facebook page.
The owners of Realty Resources, a development and property management firm headquartered in Rockport, have worked in the field of affordable housing for decades.
Joe and Linda Cloutier, who live in Camden, developed their first affordable housing project in 1976. Since then, they’ve developed numerous low-income housing communities. Today, the company manages over 80 affordable, market-rate, assisted living and workforce properties in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Currently in development is Belfast Acres Estates, a $6.1 million, 25-unit building featuring primarily one-bedroom apartments and gas-fired heat pumps. (See sidebar.)
Designed by TAC Architectural Group in Bangor, construction by Rockport-based Penobscot Co. is expected to be complete by mid-September. All units are eligible for federal rental assistance. Machias Savings Bank funded $1,978,052 of the project. MaineHousing also provided subsidy and financing, and the remainder is being financed