LEWISTON — The City Council signed off on a purchase-and-sale agreement Tuesday for the redevelopment of the former Martel School on Lisbon Street. The agreement gives developer Avesta Housing the option to purchase the property, contingent on receiving low-income housing and historic preservation tax credits toward a planned 44-unit senior housing complex. Avesta, which is partnering

LEWISTON — It’s been planned since last year, but now it’s official. A collection of downtown properties owned by the city will be turned over to Lewiston Housing, a move that officials believe will give the city its best chance at obtaining a federal redevelopment grant of up to $30 million. While those involved are

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COVID-19 Update April 16, 2020: Avesta Housing continues to work around the clock to provide safe, affordable homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our top priority remains the health and safety of our residents. While our offices remain closed to the public, we are very much open for business and working harder than ever. Our staff

LEWISTON — The city will begin negotiations for the sale of the former Martel Elementary School after the City Council unanimously supported a proposal to redevelop the site into senior housing. Over the last month, elected officials have been mulling three redevelopment proposals, and councilors said Tuesday that they each received overwhelming public feedback in

Maine is getting nearly $1.7 million from NeighborWorks America to support efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods, and create jobs. Sen. Susan Collins said the funding supports local housing organizations as they create “local solutions to community development and affordable housing challenges across Maine.” The funding includes $434,500 for Avesta

LEWISTON — Senior housing, a commercial development or a community hub? Those are the options on the table as the City Council considers which redevelopment proposal is best for the former Martel Elementary School on Lisbon Street. A week before the council is expected to make a decision, officials representing all three proposals pitched their ideas during

Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday signed into law a bill that aims to create 1,00 more affordable housing units in Maine over the next eight years. LD 1645, “An Act to Create Workforce and Senior Housing and Preserve Affordable Housing,” is a bipartisan measure sponsored by Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford. It went to the governor’s desk

Gov. Janet Mills is expected to sign into law a bill that advocates say could substantially increase the number of affordable housing units built in Maine over the next eight years. The measure would provide the first state-level tax credits to developers building new homes and apartments for poor and elderly Mainers and preserve existing rural housing.

Homelessness is a growing problem around the country, including here in Maine. Portland is currently working through the long and contentious process of building a new emergency shelter where people who are homeless can access services and stay on a night-by-night basis until they are able to move on. But for about 20 percent of the