Sustain Southern Maine:An Introduction to Centers of Opportunity
Baby boomers are downsizing and retiringThe younger generation needs affordable first homes
and often wants fewer autosMaine has very few smaller lower-cost, lower-
maintenance, energy-efficient homes in walkable communities
Maine’s bigger cities are seeing a rise in population for the first time in decades
Mill redevelopment in Sanford, Biddeford and Lewiston has been a huge success, with waiting lists for residential apartments
This is a market gap…waiting to be filled
Southern Maine’s transportation and housing needs are changing
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The Sanford Mill Apartments
The Sanford Mill Apartments
The Bates Mill
Lofts, Lewiston
The Bates Mill Lofts, Lewiston
Pepperell Mill,
Biddeford
Wilshire Row Townhome, Dunstan Crossing, Scarborough
Two Echo Cohousing Development,Brunswick
Battle Road Farm Condominiums, Lincoln, Massachusetts
Create housing choices for a range of incomesCreate transportation choice – walking, biking,
bus/train as community growsCreate attractive locations for jobs and
commerce to growMaintain parks, open space and agricultural
land
Goals for Centers of Opportunity
Support of property owners in center locationCommunity/municipal support Public sewer/water OR good soil qualityAvailable land for housing and businessesSome level of existing businesses, public
services, recreation, cultural areas or agriculture
What you need to create a Center of Opportunity
Mixed use, no more than ½-mile in diameter, able to absorb growth, with appropriate utilities, telecommunications and transportation infrastructure
Tapping into the market’s desire for safe, livable, and walkable neighborhoods
Centers of Opportunity will be:
A center of opportunity will:Be responsive to community and
landowners’ goals Be highly competitive to attract the
next generation of job and housing growth
Increase economic growth for the region by encouraging regional planning
Protect land resources and preserve local character by focusing growth in a planned way
Build and maintain a sense of local community
Benefits of Centers of Opportunity
The growth of multiple small centers will over time produce a more sustainable growth pattern than the current one, providing:Multiple economic drivers and job creatorsHealthier, walkable, affordable neighborhoods that
include destinationsEnergy-efficient housing for a range of incomes,
including seniors and the next generationEasy access to recreation, greenspace, agricultureJobs that are closer to home
Centers of Opportunity
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