Westbrook, ME

[cneal]

Planning board application materials for the 185-unit Seavey Street project, which includes 91 affordable units in 2 buildings from Avesta and 94 market-rate units in two other buildings on a ~3-acre site (61 units per acre). For some reason the renderings only illustrate the 2 buildings closest to Seavey Street, but there are two other 30-unit, 5-story buildings being planned for the interior of the site, next to the Stockhouse Restaurant parking lot:

https://www.westbrookmaine.com/DocumentCenter/View/4058/202223_Maple-Grove-Subdivision_Public-Hearingpdf

View from the west, looking east toward Seavey Street (market-rate building on the left, Avesta's senior housing on the right):

View from Seavey Street looking west into the site, along an extended Oak Street:

Corner view of new market-rate building looking northeast:

 

[Cosakita18]

This is really packing quite a bit of housing into a relatively small space. Love it!

Plus this site has good access to transit and easy pedestrian access to downtown.

Westbrook is really stepping up to the housing crisis.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

For some reason the renderings only illustrate the 2 buildings closest to Seavey Street, but there are two other 30-unit, 5-story buildings being planned for the interior of the site, next to the Stockhouse Restaurant parking lot:

This came up during the meeting in which this was presented (2/7/23). The renderings only show Phase 1. The buildings closer to Seavey are Phase 1; the ones closer to Stockhouse are Phase 2. This is indicated by the Roman numerals on Page 2 of that PDF.

It is an attractive looking project but beware of Avesta and their ability to bait and switch once construction nears completion.

This is a collaborative development. The more attractive buildings are being built by New Ventures LLC. The blander ones (with the vertical corrugated-metal-looking cladding) are the Avesta buildings. Two buildings for each developer.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

A couple more up-close shots of the Vertical Harvest and parking garage. This project isn't very photogenic from this angle.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

Word has it that CHOM has pulled out of the project, meaning the residential component is currently up in the air.

 

[TC_zoid]

I can see a large mural on the end of that garage. Please.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

I can see a large mural on the end of that garage. Please.

If they can't find another developer to take over the residential portion that was supposed to completely block that wall, I agree that a mural would be great. I'd rather they find another developer to finish the project and build a multi-story residential building in that spot.

 

[NR2Portland]

First and second shots are a before and after from vertical harvest instagram page. The third shot is from today! This building feels like it is right on top of you when you are at the light! Really cool.

 

[portlandneedsnewarena]

 

[mainejeff]

OMG…is that a real picture?!

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

Too bad neither the residential on top of the parking garage or the residential building on the end ever materialized. Can you imagine what this development would look and feel like in downtown Westbrook?