Bath Housing gets $4M jumpstart to build 24 affordable rental units

COURTESY / BATH HOUSING Phase 1, seen here, includes 18 new two-bedroom apartments and a new office for Bath Housing.

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The Bath Housing Authority, which works to improve housing stability for Bath-area seniors, people with disabilities and families, will be able to move forward on plans to build 24 additional units at its 520 Centre St. apartment complex.

It will be the second phase of a project that broke ground there last fall, constructing 18 two-bedroom apartments.

Deb Keller, Bath Housing’s executive director told Mainebiz at the time that the initial budget for Phase 1 was about $5 million.

The project is the authority’s first multifamily housing project since 1984.

Critical need

The money, from the a recent federal appropriations bill, allows Bath Housing to expedite Phase II of the project, considered an important development given the ongoing need for housing in the community.

The city of Bath and Bath Iron Works supported the funding request. Both entities said there’s a critical need for housing options for area employees of BIW, schools, the downtown retail and service sectors, Mid Coast Hospital and businesses at Brunswick Landing.

“BIW is pleased to work with our community partners in support of local solutions to help address the critical need for housing in the city of Bath,” said Charles Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. “Working together with Bath Housing and the city, we know there is more we can achieve to help not only our shipbuilders but the community as a whole.”

City Manager Marc Meyers said the investment in affordable housing reinforces Bath’s livability.

“The $4 million federal funding not only addresses the pressing need for housing, it underscores our commitment to preserving Bath as an affordable, attractive, and welcoming place to live and work,” Meyers said. “Affordable housing means people can stay here, move here and return here, and we're hopeful that the success of this project will lead to additional opportunities for housing development throughout Bath.”

Keller said the city is growing.

“We work tirelessly to ensure this growth is in a healthy, positive way, with stable housing for everyone who wants to live here,” Keller said.

Income-restricted

Phase 1 includes 18 new two-bedroom apartments on the upper three floors and a new office for Bath Housing on the first floor. Site work began last fall and construction began earlier this month. It is expected that tenants will be able to occupy the building in June 2025.

The property will be owned by Bath Housing and managed by Bath Housing Authority.

Ouellet Construction, of Brunswick, is the construction manager, and design is by Ryan Senatore Architects, of Portland.

All of the apartments will be income-restricted. The total household income will be capped at 80% of area median income, or under $51,800 for a single person, $59,200 for a couple, and $74,000 for a family of four.

The site’s location was a prominent driving force. The site connects easily to the Congress Street walking path and is only a mile from downtown businesses and major employers. The location is also walkable to the middle and high schools, the YMCA, Wing Farm Parkway and shopping plazas. A bus stop is directly across the street.

The project will be wired for future installation of Level 2 electric vehicle chargers, solar panels and fiber internet. There will be no fossil fuel systems used in the building.

The $4 million is part of a $468.7 billion appropriations package signed by President Joe Biden in March.