Insider Notebook: MaineHousing, United Way move to new quarters

Coutesy / MaineHousing MaineHousing has moved from downtown Augusta to newly renovated space at 26 Edison Drive.

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By Maureen Milliken

MaineHousing on Friday moved from its downtown Augusta building a few miles up Western Avenue to newly renovated space at 26 Edison Drive.

Landry/French renovated the 79,000-square-foot building, a project that began two years ago.

MaineHousing bought the 1967 building from Eaton Corp. in January for $1.6 million in a deal brokered by Dan Greenstein of The Boulos Co. The property was last renovated in 1986, when a 65,000-square foot addition was added.

The housing authority moved over the weekend from 353 Water St., where it's been for more than 20 years. It leased space in the 40,824-square-foot building.

The new space is close to Exit 109 of Interstate 95, behind the Turnpike Mall.

As with the old quarters, the new one remains closed to the public because of COVID-19.

United Way moves to Forest Avenue

United Way of Greater Portland has moved into its new space on Forest Avenue in Portland.

The organization is leasing 10,600 square feet of office space at 550 Forest Ave. from SSA Realty LLC. Greg Boulos and Samantha Marinko, of The Boulos Co., and Justin Lamontagne, Katie Millett and Tom Moulton, of NAI The Dunham Group, brokered the lease late last year.

The United Way has been at 1 Canal Plaza for the past 10 years.

"This new location is the start of another chapter in our 90-plus year history," the organization said in a news release this week. "Our old office served us well, and we made great memories there, but we couldn't be more excited about our new space.

"We're looking forward to meeting our new neighbors, sharing our new community space, and supporting the restaurants and businesses within an easy walking distance of the new location."

As with MaineHousing, for the time being, though, the staff is working remotely, and it will be a while before the public can check out the new quarters.

Maine Preservation Honor Awards nominations open

Nominations are open for this year's Maine Preservation Honor Awards.

Its the 22nd year for the awards, which celebrate excellence in historic preservation rehabilitation, craft and leadership.

"Since 1998, Maine Preservation has recognized historic preservation successes across the state and celebrated the people that make them happen," the Yarmouth-based organization said in a news release.

"The awards program powerfully illustrates how adaptively using and updating vacant and underutilized historic structures is an essential ingredient for community revitalization and vigor."

The awards are open to projects that have substantially improved historic property and been completed within the past three years or are scheduled to be completed by September, as well as leaders who have made a long-term statewide impact on historic preservation.

The staff and Board of Trustees of Maine Preservation will select award recipients. Winners will be recognized in November.

Nominations are due July 1, and more information on nominating can be found at mainepreservation.org.