Lewiston reasonably priced housing undertaking loses key vote
A serious reasonably priced housing undertaking in Lewiston was dealt a major blow final week, after town’s Board of Appeals voted in opposition to permitting a key variance.
Lewiston Housing desires to spend greater than $7 million — together with a $3.7 million grant from MaineHousing — to show Lewiston’s Ramada Inn into 117 models of what it describes as “everlasting reasonably priced housing,” designed for individuals experiencing homelessness and people in danger.
To make the undertaking work, the company is looking for a variance that will permit a lot of these models to be smaller than town’s minimal dwelling unit measurement of 300 sq. toes.
However on Wednesday, the board unanimously rejected that petition.
The board questioned whether or not the property wanted to be transformed from a lodge with a purpose to hold working, and board member Paula Masselli stated that the undertaking would considerably alter the character of the neighborhood.
“We’ve only a few neighborhoods left in Lewiston. I’d prefer to see the neighborhood keep,” Masselli stated.
The way forward for the undertaking is now unclear. Lewiston Housing Government Director Chris Kilmurry instructed the Board of Appeals that getting the approval would be sure that it may meet a deadline to obtain state funding.
“We couldn’t undergo the method of getting it contract-zoned by the planning board, and two readings of town council, within the period of time, earlier than that $3.7 million would go away,” Kilmurry stated. “As soon as that cash goes away, the deal would not make sense financially.”
On Friday, Kilmurry stated that the company is evaluating the following steps for the undertaking.
This text seems by a media partnership with Maine Public.
