Beginning in 1912, the Emery School in Biddeford served as an elementary school in the dense residential neighborhood adjacent to Biddeford’s Downtown and Mill Districts. Since the school played a significant role in Biddeford’s history, community leaders were very eager to see their landmark brought back to its former stature. In the summer of 2010, Developers Collaborative partnered with Avesta Housing to convert the former school into senior apartment units. DC was responsible for all predevelopment aspects of the project and partnered with the City on an Affordable Housing TIF, contract zone, and site plan approval, all of which was accomplished in a single month fast track schedule in order to meet MaineHousing submission deadlines.

The project created 24 affordable senior housing units while preserving a community landmark within walking distance of the downtown. The unit mix includes 20 one-bedroom units and 4 two-bedroom units, with 13 units fully handicapped accessible. It was DC’s third consecutive affordable housing historic tax credit project.