With big smiles and cheers from onlookers officials with the town of Scarborough and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland broke ground on a subdivision designed to provide workforce affordable homes last week.

During the June 25 groundbreaking ceremony, Scarborough Town Manager Tom Hall called the 13-lot project off Broadturn Road “critical” to maintaining diversity within the town and to providing housing that’s affordable for teachers, nurses, police officers and the like.

Hall also said the new subdivision, which is being built on 20 acres of land owned by the town, helps Scarborough and Habitat to advance “both our priorities.” In ending his remarks, he called on locals to join the volunteer crews that would build the homes.

The project, which has been three years in the making, includes single-family, three- to four-bedroom homes, which have a sales price capped at $190,000.

The goal is to provide quality housing for people who are often priced out of owning a home in Scarborough where the median price for a single-family home is around $300,000.

There are three different housing styles being offered – one is for single-floor living, while the other two are two-story homes. Anyone wishing to apply for one of the Habitat homes must earn at least $30,000 a year and no more than $61,700 for a family of four.

In his remarks last week, Godfrey Wood, the executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, said around 800 volunteers would be needed to build the 13 homes, which require sweat equity from the chosen homeowners, as well.

Wood told the Current the goal is to have the first two or three homes ready for occupancy by early 2016 and for the first five to six homes to be built within a 12-month period.

The subdivision, which will be called Carpenter Court, is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland’s biggest project yet. And, according to Bill Leet, chairman of the Habitat board, it’s also the “most ambitious and exciting project to date.”

Of the 13 homes to be built, eight will be Habitat homes and the other five will be sold through the Scarborough Housing Alliance with the caveat that they will always remain affordable, Wood said.

He said the total project cost is expected to be about $1.4 million and said construction is being financed by Gorham Savings Bank and the Genesis Community Loan Fund. In addition, the project sponsors include the Bank of America and IDEXX Laboratories, among other community partners.

In his comments, which were read in his absence by Wood, Leet also said, “this is really so proud a moment” and he thanked both Habitat and town staff, as well as the members of the Scarborough Housing Alliance.

Council Chairwoman Jessica Holbrook, who is also the council liaison to the housing alliance, said as a seventh generation resident of Scarborough she “really appreciates the need for workforce housing.”

She also said the project is “extremely needed and important” and said it was a great model for other communities. What Holbrook also appreciates about the project is that 75 percent of the land, or about 15 acres, will be put into permanent conservation.

Overall, she said, “I am extremely proud and honored to be involved. I am grateful we were able to come together and bring (this project) to fruition.”

Following the groundbreaking ceremony Wood told the Current this is the first time Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland has collaborated with a municipality in this way, particularly in terms of the land grant.

In his remarks Hall called Habitat “the best partner” and said the nonprofit has “a great track record” in building homes for those who could not otherwise afford them.

“I couldn’t be more pleased. This is a really important day,” he added.

A widely assorted group of officials gathered last week for the official groundbreaking of a new Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland project in Scarborough. From left are Mark Primeau, a Habitat development associate; Jessica Holbrook, chairwoman of the Scarborough Town Council; Godfrey Wood, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland; Tom Hall, Scarborough town manager; Aaron Shapiro, the community development director for Cumberland County; Bill Floyd, executive director of the Genesis Community Loan Fund; Matt Early, a senior vice president at Gorham Savings Bank; and Neil Jamieson, a Cumberland County commissioner. Staff photo by Kate Irish Collins

Copy the Story Link