The South Portland City Council has approved a 180-unit affordable housing development on a former industrial site along the Fore River, a project that supporters say will make a meaningful dent in the region’s housing shortage while transforming an underused waterfront property into a vibrant residential community.
The development, called Fore River Landing, will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with all units reserved for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income. Rents will range from approximately $700 to $1,400 per month, well below market rates in the Portland metro area.
“This is exactly the kind of housing our community needs — deeply affordable homes for working families, seniors, and individuals who are being squeezed out of the market,” said South Portland mayor Misha Pride.
The project, developed by Avesta Housing, one of Maine’s largest nonprofit housing developers, will be built on a 4.5-acre site that formerly housed a marine services company. Environmental remediation of the property was completed last year using state brownfields cleanup funds.
The development’s design includes energy-efficient construction meeting passive house standards, a community garden, a playground, a resident community room, and pedestrian connections to the adjacent Greenbelt walking trail. Twenty of the units will be fully accessible, and 10 will be specifically designed for residents transitioning out of homelessness, with on-site support services.
“Housing is healthcare, it’s education, it’s economic stability,” said Avesta Housing CEO Rebecca Hatfield. “Every family that moves into Fore River Landing will have a stable foundation from which to build their lives.”
The project drew some opposition from neighbors concerned about density, traffic, and the impact on the surrounding neighborhood. The council addressed these concerns through conditions that include traffic calming measures, landscaped buffer zones, and a community liaison position during construction.
Funding for the $52 million project comes from a combination of federal low-income housing tax credits, Maine Housing Authority financing, city tax increment financing, and philanthropic grants. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026 with the first units available by late 2027.
