New downtown district hopes to improve Portland’s energy efficiency

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PORTLAND — Vin Veroneau said he is not quite sure what to expect of the new Portland 2030 District, but is eager to see how it can affect his bottom line and the world around him.

“Hopefully, it gives us a competitive advantage and is good for the environment,” Veroneau said Oct. 18 about the new initiative announced Oct. 13 by the Greater Portland Council of Governments.

Veroneau is president and CEO of J.B. Brown & Sons, which develops and manages commercial and residential properties throughout the Portland area.

The Portland 2030 District is part of a broader continental initiative involving 13 U.S. cities, including Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Dallas, as well as Toronto, Canada.

“This project gives property owners, managers and developers tools to save resources and money,” GPCOG Exective Director Kristina Egan said in a press release.

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David Harry

The Forecaster

Senior housing development opens in Gorham

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GORHAM (WGME) — With Maine’s aging population, senior housing is at a premium.

Avesta Housing celebrated their grand opening of its’ latest senior apartment development in Gorham on Thursday.

The development, Ridgewood at Village Square has 24 one and two-bedroom affordable apartments.

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WGME

Gorham’s new affordable senior housing opens – and it’s already full

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Avesta Housing has opened 24 affordable housing units in Gorham for people age 62 or older.

Ridgewood at Village Square consists of one- and two-bedroom apartments targeted to households at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income, or a maximum of $37,020 for a two-person household. All rents are subsidized based on 30 percent of a tenant’s adjusted household income.

The units are coming on the market amid high demand for affordable rental units, especially for older residents.

“Ridgewood filled up fast and there are no vacancies,” said Sara Olsen, development and communications manager at Avesta Housing. “In fact, there are already 42 households on the wait list.”

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Megan Doyle

Portland Press Herald

 

Falmouth will build more senior apartments

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FALMOUTH (WGME) — More affordable housing for low income seniors is coming to Falmouth.

In a rare move this week, the Falmouth Planning Board granted preliminary and final approval for 19 senior apartments in the Blackstone Development off Depot Rd.

The developer, Avesta Housing, asked for a waiver of normal procedure because of financial deadlines imposed by investors. The vote was unanimous.

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WGME

Multi-Housing Difference: Pushing (or Sealing) the Envelope to Make Multi-Unit Housing Affordable

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Maine Realtor

Click the link above to be directed to pg. 42 of Maine Realtor Fall 2016

Pingree, Concannon visit 1 of nearly 400 summer meals sites in Maine

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PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Rep. Chellie Pingree joined a member of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture at one of Maine’s summer meals sites on Tuesday.

The USDA funds nearly 400 sites throughout the state where Monday through Friday, kids can get a free meal.

“The USDA, we support these meals, but it takes partnerships with the Housing Authority, with the Alliance, with Preble Street,” said Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services with the USDA.

Concannon grew up in Portland, so Rep. Pingree wanted to show him what that funding is doing for the kids in his community.

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Amanda Hill

WCSH

Avesta Selects Yardi Voyager Affordable Housing

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August 4, 2016

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Avesta Housing has adopted cloud-based Yardi Voyager® Affordable Housing as its business platform for its affordable housing management portfolio. Avesta will streamline its property management and accounting processes and replace several pieces of software with the Yardi Voyager Affordable Housing solution stack.

As a nonprofit organization, Avesta Housing describes its technology objectives as a component of the company’s overall mission to facilitate communication and service. By replacing disparate software databases with Voyager, Avesta will have faster access to information, a more responsive operating platform, and reduced time managing data. Voyager’s resident portal will allow them to engage residents more easily.

“We expect Voyager will make us more efficient by improving communication between departments and residents. That efficiency will enable us to spend more time with our residents and achieve successful outcomes,” said Chris Kilmurry, director of property management and resident services for Avesta.

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Business Wire