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