AFFORDABLE HOUSING

BRICK HILL COTTAGES

Brick Hill occupies the former site of the Maine Youth Center, a juvenile corrections facility, in South Portland, Maine. When the Maine Youth Center relocated to a more modern facility nearby, they left behind a campus of striking historic brick structures and a pastoral, hilltop landscape that was within walking distance of thousands of jobs in the Maine Mall area, and only a short drive (or paddle - the development includes a dock and launch for small boats) across the harbor from downtown Portland.

The planning process for the site revealed a strong need for affordable housing within walking distance of new and existing job opportunities. Neighbors also expressed a desire to preserve the campus's historic brick buildings.

As a result, the Developers Collaborative made affordable housing a focus of the redevelopment plan. Five historic brick “cottages” circling the central green of the campus were renovated into 43 multi-family apartments. The renovated cottages complement a nearby cluster of 66 newly-built townhouses.

All of this housing has easy access to expansive open spaces, including a small boat launch on Long Creek. The homes are also within walking distance to hundreds of jobs, including existing and planned commercial developments on the Brick Hill site.

FAST FACTS

Location:
Brick Hill neighborhood, South Portland

Completion Date:
2007

Project Scope:
43 affordable apartments

Lead Developers:
Richard Berman and Jim Hatch

Total Cost:
$8.5 million