Developer chosen to convert former Augusta police station site into affordable housing

The old Augusta Police station is seen near Capitol Park in Augusta on Friday. The city accepted Portland Developers Collaborative’s plans to build affordable housing units in the area. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Magazine

AUGUSTA — City officials plan to sell the former Augusta Police Department property to a Portland developer that plans to build about 100 units of affordable housing for senior citizens and families, potentially offering on-site child care.

Officials selected Developers Collaborative’s proposal among three submitted to redevelop the former police station at 33 Union St., a 4-acre parcel between the Kennebec Valley YMCA and Capitol Park.

The Portland developer, which has partnered with the Augusta Housing Authority on other housing projects in the city, proposes to build 100 to 103 affordable housing units in two phases, with a mix of senior housing and family units limited to tenants 55 and older. one, two and three bedroom options.

The developer would purchase the property from the city for $500,000.

Plans also include the potential for a child care facility, possibly in partnership with the adjacent YMCA, according to city officials.

Laura Reading, Developers Collaborative’s director of affordable housing, said their conceptual proposal is to develop a mix of senior and family housing to create an intergenerational community along with nearby recreational activities such as the existing campus of the Kennebec Valley YMCA and the Kennebec River Railroad. Trail and Capitol Park. “Programming and services may include partnering with KVYMCA and its existing programs, as well as creating new spaces for new or expanded programs, such as providing additional child care space or providing a community kitchen that can bring people of all ages together.”

He said the company has just begun the design process to redevelop the site and plans to work with neighbors and the community who are redesigning it.

The old Augusta Police Station (left) and the Kennebec Valley YMCA (right) are seen near Capitol Park in Augusta on Friday. The city has accepted plans by the Portland Developers Collaborative to build affordable housing units on the site of the former police station. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Magazine

Three bids were submitted during the competitive request for proposals process, with city officials choosing Developers Collaborative’s bid.

“This proposal is both achievable and ambitious, and we look forward to working with the Developers Collaborative to bring this vision to life,” city development director Matt Nazar said in a statement. “Their past work with the Augusta Housing Authority and other communities in Maine has demonstrated quality, diligence and effective project management. “We believe this partnership will be an important step in meeting Augusta’s housing and child care needs.”

Augusta Housing Authority previously Worked on other projects with Developers Collaborativeincluding rdevelopment of old Hodgkins Convert the middle school into high-end apartments, which opened in 2016.

City request for proposalApplications must be made to convert council-owned properties into affordable housing development.

Amanda Bartlett, former director of the Augusta Housing Authority, previously said the city built a building while she was in that position. new police station since openinghousing authority He may have been interested in purchasing the former Augusta police station to redevelop the site with housing. Bartlett left that position last year to work at Developers Collaborative.

The quasi-municipal Augusta Housing Authority has not submitted a proposal for the police station site.

Developers Collaborative’s plans include demolishing the old police station building, officials said. Lots of problems, including a leaky roof.

Reading is home to Developers Collaborative, a firm that develops many residential projects, and Built a new homeless shelter in PortlandIt plans to apply for low-income housing tax credits in September 2025 and, if successful, could begin construction on the first of two phases in September 2026, which would be completed about a year from now.

Rental housing will be available to people earning 60% or less of the median income in the area. That would be about $36,540 a year for a one-person household or $41,760 for a two-person household, according to MaineHousing data for Kennebec County.

City Manager Jared Mills said the project offers Augusta a unique opportunity to expand its affordable housing stock and make a meaningful impact in the community.

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