Planning board grants waivers and approves amended 6‑story mixed‑use project at 55 Middle Street
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Summary
The board granted seven design waivers and approved AGN Development LLC’s amended plan for a six‑story, 152‑unit mixed‑use building at 55 Middle St., allowing reduced glazing, modified first‑floor elevations and a reduced active‑area requirement; the waiver motion passed with one abstention and the development approval passed unanimously with conditions including a parking agreement and recorded Riverwalk easement.
The Lewiston Planning Board on March 11 approved an amendment from AGN Development LLC to a previously approved six‑story mixed‑use project at 55 Middle Street. The amended design increases the building footprint to about 18,524 square feet and the unit count to 152, with about 1,575 square feet of first‑floor commercial space and a plan to provide required parking in an existing garage at 26 Chapel Street.
Applicants asked for seven waivers from design‑district standards and the active‑area requirement: (1) allow the commercial first‑floor entrance not to be recessed if alternative weather protection is provided; (2) reduce first‑floor glazing on the residential side to a 16% minimum; (3) lower the first‑floor elevation in places to address a 10‑foot grade change across the site; (4) reduce first‑floor window sill heights where needed; (5) permit residential entrances without a conventional stoop/porch if alternative weather protection is supplied; (6) allow upper‑story windows to be flush with the wall without an architectural surround; and (7) reduce the active (amenity) area requirement from 50 square feet per unit to about 37 square feet per unit by counting the building lobby, fitness room, courtyard, dog‑walk area and a constructed segment of the riverwalk toward the requirement.
Project representatives (civil engineer Mike Tadema Whelan and architect Aubrey Bennett) described grading challenges, the rotated building footprint, riverwalk easement language and a proposed Lowell Street cross section to create a low‑speed, pedestrian‑ and bicycle‑oriented street. Applicant Jason Levesque said the riverwalk segment would connect to city‑owned green space and offered to help maintain that area, saying, "I'll even go there and mow it," when discussing activation of public spaces adjacent to the development.
Board members debated design tradeoffs — glazing versus wall treatment, privacy for residential units, and amenity activation — and suggested architectural approaches to add visual interest at street level. The board voted first on the package of seven waivers (motion passed with Alex Pine recorded as abstaining on that vote) and then approved the development with conditions including proof of financial capacity before a building permit, a parking agreement ensuring residential spaces at 26 Chapel Street, filing a subdivision plan and recording an easement for the riverwalk at the registry of deeds, and an engineer’s certification that all site improvements have been completed in accordance with approved plans prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
The board recorded the motions and conditions. The applicants said financial closing and HUD cost certification work were underway and anticipated groundbreaking this spring with occupancy targeted in 2027.