Avesta Housing celebrates grand opening of Porter Station
by
Rod Harmon
PHOTO: Joseph, a resident of Porter Station, speaks during the grand opening celebration on May 2.
Avesta Housing celebrated the opening of Porter Station, its latest affordable housing development in Portland, with a grand opening celebration on May 2.
Located at 200 Valley St., Porter Station cost $22 million to build and provides 60 safe, quality, affordable homes in the historic St. John Valley neighborhood. Demand for apartments was extremely high: Avesta received more than 350 applications in three days’ time, and the building was fully leased before opening to residents in November 2023.
Andrea Dodge Patstone
Residents range in age from newborn to 83 and include young professionals, blue-collar workers, retirees, recent immigrants, lifelong Maine residents and more.
“Porter Station is the culmination of years of dedication and perseverance of Avesta staff, partners, and supporters,” said Avesta Housing President & CEO Rebecca Hatfield. “I am proud to commemorate its completion, and I am pleased that 60 diverse households now have a place to call home.”
Featured speakers at the grand opening were Andrea Dodge Patstone, coastal region president for MaineHealth and chair of the Avesta Housing board of directors; Portland Mayor Mark Dion; Kenneth Willis, senior vice president and director of housing and community investment for Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston; and Joseph, a Marine Corps veteran and retired truck driver who is raising his two granddaughters at Porter Station.
“We need more places like Porter Station,” Joseph said. “I love the place — the people are fantastic, and there are really nice people here. It’s home.”
