Portland committee pauses selection, invites two developers back for Behrend Center housing proposals

The Portland Housing & Economic Development Committee reviewed five proposals to redevelop city-owned property at 1125 Brighton Avenue (the Behrend Center campus) and, after an executive-session deliberation, asked staff to invite two developers back for additional presentations before making a recommendation to the full City Council.

Committee members and staff spent most of the meeting on the Request for Proposals (RFP) process and on summaries of responsive bids. Director of Housing and Economic Development Greg Watson told the committee the RFP was issued on February 20 with proposals due April 9 and that five submissions were received; one respondent, Newsites USA LLC, was judged nonresponsive.

Why it matters: the site could produce between about 38 and 90 affordable or workforce housing units depending on which proposal moves forward, and developers plan to leverage federal low-income housing tax credits, state financing, and other public funds. Committee members and residents questioned how the city will balance family versus senior housing, what share of units will be reserved for clients of the city’s social services system, and whether the site’s utilities and wetlands constrain development.

Staff summary of proposals

- Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) proposed on Site 1 a roughly 52-unit building targeted to adults 55 and older at about 50–60% of area median income (AMI), with tenant amenities and a projected LIHTC application in September 2026 and a lease-up beginning in 2028. CHOM proposed a smaller, roughly 38-unit building on Site 2 for individuals and families under 50–60% AMI, and said it would pursue Federal Home Loan Bank grants, MaineHousing debt, HUD HOME funds, city housing-trust funds, and an affordable housing tax increment financing (TIF) structure.

- Avesta Housing proposed approximately 40 family units (studio to three-bedroom), ground-floor…