Deering Place, Avesta Housing’s newest affordable housing development in Portland, has been named one of the top real estate developments in Maine by the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA). The award was presented during MEREDA’s annual spring conference on May 24 at Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland and accepted by Avesta Housing Development Officer Pat Hess and Drew Wing, a former Avesta employee and current chief operating officer for Zachau Construction, general contractor for Deering Place.

The seven developments were selected based on criteria that included environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, social impact, uniqueness, difficulty of development, and job creation. According to a press release by MEREDA, they “not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to excellent jobs and increased tax bases for our cities and towns.”