Maintain the integrity of our town! Preserve Freeport’s charming and historic parking lots!

Submitted by bitesandcats t3_10zrtyh in Maine

Article in today’s PPH with some golden quotes from one of the contrarians fighting these 30 new homes.

“Nourse said she finds the scale and visual effect of the apartment complex “affronting” and described it as “a slap in the face to anyone driving up the road.””

and

““Part of the charm and reason why people come to Freeport is because of that New England character and this would really ruin it,” said Nourse.”

Yes, constricting nice looking apartments on a parking lot will undoubtedly destroy the charm of Freeport.

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Comments

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FITM-K t1_j84riul wrote

The fuck are they even talking about? Nobody comes to Freeport because that corner with the fire station is pretty.

243

triage_this t1_j86ctcy wrote

The McDonald's has some nice historic charm to it.

48

MeEvilBob t1_j86r4ar wrote

They say Alfred Maine himself used to get McNuggets from that location every day.

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boon4376 t1_j876ovt wrote

They could at least choose a matching facade.

4

JimStencil t1_j84yqfg wrote

Nothing like the historic feel of the giant LL bean complex! Come on now.

222

TheFangjangler t1_j85536p wrote

And all of the retail outlet stores…yeah that’s historic New England alright!

81

cepheus42 t1_j888tdg wrote

Exactly what I was thinking. The last few times I drove through there, I remember thinking it looked like an outlet trap, not a real town. Nicer than a big outlet strip mall perhaps, but still.

Yeah, fuck these folks, they're idiots.

6

FruitLongjumping6379 t1_j84sl5l wrote

We need more affordable housing! We need more housing in general. Parking lots tho? In a dying town? Retail here has caved. The town needs more humans to keep Freeport alive, no parked cars. Keep LL Bean boot the national brands that don’t add to culture and build more homes!

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iceflame1211 t1_j85e9rw wrote

Agreed with all points, but fyi the article specifically notes this isn't an affordable housing apartment complex. If it were, it may have more support.

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TheDanMonster t1_j85ftrk wrote

You think the NIMBYs would support an affordable housing project in their lovely and picturesque Maine town? Pfft. Okay.

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IStealWaffles t1_j8aq5bu wrote

The best solution is to build apartment complexes in every NIMBY's backyard. The more they scream, the taller the apartment towers get.

4

Old_Description6095 t1_j860ee2 wrote

I'd love to move to freeport if housing became more affordable there. WTF is wrong with people?!

20

IllustriousAmbition9 t1_j88grdb wrote

Oh, this will absolutely not be affordable. It'll be condos with gray vinyl laminate flooring starting in the low 600's.

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gingerbreadguy t1_j88lke8 wrote

Eh that's like Portland peninsula pandemic pricing. I don't think you're going to get that price in a town with the shittiest food scene in coastal Maine, no night life, and it's just a glorified mall.

8

metalandmeeples t1_j88muny wrote

But still good public schools, so people with children pay big money. Freeport prices are comparable to Yarmouth and Cumberland which are similarly sized towns.

7

profmoxie t1_j88isk3 wrote

Some folks don't want affordable housing in their town. They want to keep living there out of reach for most people.

4

FlyingUdonMonster t1_j85x15g wrote

Nah, keep the Lindt store, too. Those chocolates are expensive, but they're also delicious and about as addictive as crack!

7

the5thstring25 t1_j860wu6 wrote

And full of poison element traces.

−6

FlyingUdonMonster t1_j865sp6 wrote

So is everything else these days. If I didn't eat anything that ever came on the news because of some contamination or another, I'd die of starvation!

15

dabeeman t1_j8i3098 wrote

where are you getting that idea? first google result shows freeport grew by over 20%.

1

SagesseBleue t1_j850l2y wrote

New England character? Freeport?

Yeah if you think of New England charm as a half empty mall with the roof taken off.

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makemenutraloaf t1_j85xj6d wrote

How does anyone feel that they’re getting the real Maine charm and experience in a tourist trap town? I always hated going to freeport.

7

pretendimabubble t1_j868dn2 wrote

Well, that McDonald’s charms the hell out of many folks. Most are like <9 y.o.

5

RudeAssistant9903 t1_j8558m6 wrote

Fucking NIMBYs at it again. They've already blocked a proposal for an affordable housing unit in Cape Elizabeth cause it it would detract from the "character" of the town.

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Runnah5555 t1_j85ascz wrote

Character means rich white people.

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Friendly-Matter-3819 t1_j85dccq wrote

To be fair, even if they build these apartments, they’re going to rent to more rich people anyway, just less rich than the home owners.

18

drgordy t1_j85fw0z wrote

Freeport residents are delusional if they think their downtown looks like a historic New England town. The Main Street is just one strip mall after another.

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SecretAsianMaine t1_j85em9b wrote

NIMBYs are why our state struggles so much. Energy, housing, any type of progress or development is an assault on their imagined lifestyle.

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NotYou007 t1_j882k67 wrote

I've been in Maine 20 years and one thing I learned early on is a lot of Mainers hate any sort of positive progress. If you dare propose anything that will enrich lives they will shout it or vote it down.

10

hike_me t1_j8e56r2 wrote

I’ve lived in Maine for the entirety of my 40+ years on earth and I agree with you 100%

4

shapesize t1_j85pq5p wrote

Then turn into r/leopardsatemyface when revenue isn’t going up

9

forty_tu t1_j88tdip wrote

Don’t know much about Maine but this is a real problem everywhere in New England. Add burdensome building regulations/zoning and you have a housing shortage IMO. Not everyone can afford to live in suburb McMansions or luxury apts.

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hike_me t1_j84wlwr wrote

Looks fine to me. I’d be okay if they built something like that in my town. Unfortunately the best lot for something like that in my town is now being turned into a 45 room “bed and breakfast” (really just a hotel that serves breakfast with an apartment for an employee to live in the building)

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sspif t1_j8560ix wrote

Lol, Freeport has zero charm to begin with. It’s a fucking shopping center.

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Trilliam_West t1_j85ywu4 wrote

Oh noes, if they build this people under the age of 50 might be able to live there. How horrid!

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bwma t1_j84x13j wrote

I'm curious what happens if they fully succeed. All the towns that do this will end up being defacto retirement communities. Nobody can afford to move there except established boomers. Younger families with money aren't going to want to move to a town that has nothing but old people, because the schools will suck.

Nobody is winning.

30

guethlema t1_j89lju1 wrote

Oh, someone will always win in these situations, and it's usually the people who already have a shitload of money.

Portland has fewer residents and more housing than it did in the 1940s-1970s but somehow there's a housing crunch. It's a combo of people expecting more from their housing and people having for profit housing.

But hey, I'm sure Freeport really needs those lux apartments when a third of the storefronts are empty

3

IamSauerKraut t1_j86ebz5 wrote

Terrible, those boomers. They don't even have any kids. Or grandkids. Or nieces. Or nephews. Just money! Terrible!

−17

Trilliam_West t1_j86bhpi wrote

Notice how the sprawl of SFH subdivisions that sell for more than $600K never ruins the historic charm of the town/region/state, just the apartment buildings that young people or those less affluent might want to live in do.

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metalandmeeples t1_j88nqnb wrote

It's all about squeezing the maximum amount of property taxes out of each new resident. Everyone loses their mind at the thought of property taxes going up, so the developments that get approved are $700,000+ units on a private road that is directly off of a state road. This isn't coincidental. Freeport at least has a decent commercial tax base that keeps the mill rate low.

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ecco-domenica t1_j84uqu9 wrote

They did some similar sized new affordable housing in Auburn that does read more New England without being hokey or DisneyNewEnglandified. It looks a lot better than these buildings. Although the bay windows help. A hint of triple-decker.

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Hockeyjockey58 t1_j87r8vi wrote

Yeah, these buildings literally are the definition of New England. And I don’t know, Bath, Belfast, Bangor, Biddo, (so many B’s?!), Portland, Augusta…urban can still be New England.

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anyodan8675 t1_j86jivi wrote

The thing that I think many people on this sub don't understand is that Maine culture is rooted in a tradition of never changing ANYTHING! It is one of the things that has kept Maine underdeveloped and therefore a desirable place to live. Maine has always welcomed visitors but has always at the community level discouraged "transplants" or "people from away". It's not as much NIMBY, as "it's always been that way and it should not change". People want to come to Maine because of the way it is. Rural, quiet, and backwards in many ways. Maine has had this pervasive attitude as long as I can remember. Most Mainers resist change.

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NotYou007 t1_j8831vt wrote

And these are the same idiotic Mainers that can't understand why the younger generation leaves.

I've been in Maine 20 years and all the old timers do, is bitch and moan, but when you propose change that will benefit them. They'll scream and shout like toddlers till they get their way and it never happens.

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evolvolution t1_j85f32y wrote

Historic Outlet Stores and lest we forget the historic McDonalds

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MathematicianGlum880 t1_j84yw0k wrote

There is no way in hell I would want to live in “down town Freeport” been here all my life and in the summer, you’d never leave or get back in and it’s gotten worse. Hard pass for me. There are all kinds of areas they can build but this would make the congestion even worse.

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Trilliam_West t1_j86rypx wrote

You do realize the State Police aren't going to show up and make you move into the apartment building. If you don't want to live there, then don't live there.

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GrizzlyMainer t1_j88hr4h wrote

Agreed. I think many commenting don’t truly understand where this is being proposed. There are many other parts of town, even close to Main St, it would be fine, but not that corner lot next to town hall.

Not against the project, but NOT on that specific unique lot.

Those opposed are absolutely correct.

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baxterstate t1_j88l7hc wrote

Downtown is exactly where low income housing should be built; walking distance to stores, and if you’re going to get public transportation, that’s where it will be.

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MathematicianGlum880 t1_j88sqz8 wrote

Low income people will find absolutely NOTHING they can afford in that area of Freeport that they can walk to. No grocery store. Sam's sandwich shop and that s it. Nothing!! There is no Goodwill. No Walmart. Freeport wouldn't let a McDonalds move in to town for the longest time and then they reached a compromise, they could go to the other end, after Beans BUT they had to use an already existing building and it couldn't look like McDonalds. Have you been to Freeport? Do you know the area? | have lived here my whole life (62f) and have been to Beans many times and the traffic can be horrendous. There are no buses. I don't mind low income housing. I don't even care if it's in my backyard. I'm not a NIMBY…however...you don't install something where those who can't afford to live in that area...a place to live. You don't give poor people a house unless they can do the upkeep. Trust me...I was there. We had a house and we didn't have the extra cash to keep it up so it went to shit.

PS…it’s not really a ‘downtown’ like Portland or Gorham.

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twirble t1_j85zikc wrote

Freeport lost that "Historic" feel ages ago when mom and pop stores were all forced out by larger chains. Seriously though, Maine needs housing for workers; period. You can't service all these rich out-of staters and retired folk if the people you need to service them can't afford to live there. That or pay your workers more; pick your poison because it will end up being one or the other as Maine's population becomes older and older.

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eljefino t1_j873gga wrote

And this is where worker housing should be-- in a town with decent schools, located near the jobs (!) and interstate. Keeps sprawl down.

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Mooshtonk t1_j87712o wrote

Just like the people in Brunswick/Topsham that oppose rebuilding that ugly rusty ass bridge

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Freeman0032 t1_j852g5q wrote

Freeport is such a weird town builds state of the art movie theater. Still closed

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MitchThunder t1_j86auo1 wrote

Oh fuck off. Build the housing

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metalandmeeples t1_j86bejz wrote

This isn't the first time Freeport residents have tried to block a housing development. The area is still growing quickly, but it's all $700,000+ houses like Renee Rd and Peter Robin Way. Pownal and Durham are lockstep in this too.

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PantyPixie t1_j870bgt wrote

"There's no places to live around here anymore! Everything is an airbnb!" 😭

How about this apartment complex? 🤔

"No!" 😭

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Trilliam_West t1_j8f2kcr wrote

🤣🤣

"Why is the Dunkin/Amatos/Hannaford understaffed. Don't people want to work anymore?" 😭

"Ma'am/Sir, most of the employees can't afford to live in this county let alone in this town, so they aren't going to work here either. Maybe if we upzone the area we can build more affordable housing. Look at this nice apartment building that's proposed to go where the abandoned Hollywood video was." 🤓

"No, that building is horrible. It's three stories, practically a skyscraper. Also the shutters look different than what I want on my house. Why are you trying to make (random town) into Manhattan." 😭

1

NoxiousAether t1_j85gwwg wrote

People are such losers, GOD FORBID YOU BRING MORE MONEY AND PEOPLE TO YOUR TOWN, which over the last 10 years has steeply declined. Wake the fuck up freeport. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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ocho-8-ocho t1_j87fto0 wrote

From the article...

"Hamlin noted the project is part of the town’s effort to increase housing, but the units will not be considered affordable. "

They're trying to turn Maine into Massachusetts with 500k 2 bedroom "luxury" condos. F that. Don't fall for this bullshit... its just going to attract remote workers and wealthy speculators. If it was for workforce housing it'd be a different story.

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juicebox567 t1_j85hes8 wrote

Let me translate: "I have money and the idea of people with less money being able to live in an area that I like is off putting to me." They do the same shit in VT/NH, all the rich ppl pushing against apt complexes because they don't want their town filled with the people who actually work in all the businesses they find so charming

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ROclimbingbabeCK t1_j86aqea wrote

Have lived here for 6 years. Young people can’t afford houses here. Would love more affordable places to live.

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alt_jake t1_j88rkkg wrote

The only affordable housing in Maine is in trailer parks.

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flippinhot t1_j8cx8pc wrote

Those aren't affordable any longer. Most parks are now owned and managed by private equity firms. The government of the usa doesn't care about its citizens. They sell them out to the highest bidder, and the dumbest of them still plaster the flag onto everything they own.

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iglidante t1_j8df06t wrote

> The government of the usa doesn't care about its citizens.

If you aren't on the path to financial success, you aren't the type of citizen many are interested in caring about.

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alt_jake t1_j8et2pr wrote

Lot rent will be between $400 and $600 a month and a new 3 bedroom trailer between 60 and 80 thousand. So between 1000 and 1500 a month for a 3 bedroom place. Cheaper if you buy used.

1

IHadADreamIWasAMeme t1_j86j1rd wrote

Freeport is another one of those towns filled with middle aged wealthy people that like to look like they give a shit about “muh equality” by posting self righteous bullshit on social media but in actuality they don’t want anyone that might be perceived as a lesser class living anywhere near their town.

See also: Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, etc.

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Imgbaah t1_j88kd39 wrote

For a lot of people it's about not wanting more density and traffic or to have their small town turn into Portland, which is itself turning into Boston. They are proposing a huge housing complex (also not affordable) in South Portland by bug light and the thought of 1200 more cars trying to get down Broadway through Millcreek give me pause...

(and sure public transportation - great idea that no one uses. Would take a massive investment in infrastructure area-wide to reduce cars on the road.)

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gingerbreadguy t1_j88mj7z wrote

We need density. And we need better public transportation and bike options. We need all of it.

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Imgbaah t1_j88n552 wrote

I'm simply saying this isn't NIMBYism - its people who like their small communities resisting the density and all that goes with it. If I lived in a small town and liked it and saw it rather quickly turning urban I'd probably resist too.

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gingerbreadguy t1_j88obrl wrote

I can sympathize with that but what does happen if you don't increase supply in a desirable place, is that prices shoot up. So if you don't support developing more housing, get ready for rents to rise, house prices to rise, small businesses struggling or shutting down due to rents and issues with worker housing, friends and family getting priced out of the community and having to move far away. I mean, you will still have the buildings themselves technically, but over time you won't have the community itself because of affordability issues. It will all be rich transplants. And, respectfully, I think it is NIMBYism. Just maybe you don't think NIMBYism is always bad, and it's your right to have that opinion.

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Imgbaah t1_j88qti9 wrote

Not that I don't think it's bad, I just think it's inevitable - the people who already live there and own their homes don't see or care about rent prices but they would see their home values going down when a huge apartment complex gets built next door. (and I'm not suggesting that's because of income level, it's because of density, traffic, noise, maybe they like their privacy or space etc.). They are protecting their investments.

I can see both sides on this one - I know people who've struggled to find housing they can afford, I also see how someone whose lived on a quiet street in a quiet town for years may not want a big apartment building built next door because it would have an impact on their home value and enjoyment of their property (no longer quiet).

2

gingerbreadguy t1_j88vyeu wrote

I can understand that also. But as far as property value goes, if dense development is permitted these homeowners could end up with unprecedented wealth for retirement, their families, etc. when/if it's time to downsize. But to your point, not everything is about money.

1

Trilliam_West t1_j8f3x7n wrote

Yeah, the Portland Metro has what? Under 700k people? Boston metro has 5 million. Somehow i think we're safe from Portland becoming Boston in our lifetimes.

1

baxterstate t1_j85ly8o wrote

That apartment complex looks very high end. We need Governor Mills to build a low income housing project in every town including Freeport.

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MrEddieKing t1_j85pbds wrote

Low income people can't live in nice looking places?

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Guavab t1_j85x2ql wrote

I don’t think that’s what they’re saying. If the developers are aiming to attract a higher end clientele, then they’ll make them more ‘spiffy’ (interior materials, etc). You can build apartments that are very nice without the high end mark-up materials.

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Armigine t1_j860mgm wrote

It's not that low-income people CAN'T, it's that a nice looking and brand new apartment complex is likely not going to be priced at such a point that lower income people or families can live there at all

Should be a different world, but generally seems to be the way it turns out

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baxterstate t1_j86rz4o wrote

There's more profit catering to luxury than to economy.

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ptowndavid t1_j861emy wrote

Maine is always we need more housing and in the same breath be like- don’t build more housing.

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GrizzlyMainer t1_j88hzwm wrote

The opposition to this is because the exact spot they are proposing it. It would be acceptible in many other parts of town, even close to Main St.

1

spittingdingo t1_j86ih2l wrote

Doesn’t this state desperately need housing?

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Calm_Age3582 t1_j86vxff wrote

This state desperately needs reasonably priced housing for first time homebuyers to sustain population growth and to sustain the workforce. Why people don’t understand this is beyond me. When business owners can’t staff businesses due to lack of staff or have to continue to limit their hours due to lack of staff -because workers can’t live in the area due to lack of housing or can’t afford to commute to their job from where they were able to find housing-maybe it will finally click there’s a problem!

1

NotYou007 t1_j884xgl wrote

Maine had that 3 years ago and then Covid happened. I closed on my house almost 3 years ago and it is now worth $100,000 more.

I was the first time home buyer and my house had been on the market for almost 5 months before I made my offer and houses now in my area sit on the market for maybe 3 weeks before they go pending and this is the slow time for the market.

It's going to be really interesting to see what the market looks like come summer but I predict it's not going to get better.

4

Longjumping_West_907 t1_j856yyn wrote

Wouldn't want people who work on Main Street to be able to live there would we?

3

sleepisasport t1_j86a99g wrote

Does the article say who the people are trying to block this?

3

metalandmeeples t1_j86b3lo wrote

Yes. Former police chief and someone who has lived there for 40 years.

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Trilliam_West t1_j86qqgb wrote

So a home owner that wants his speculative investment to have a valuation boost due to artificial scarcity. Got it.

4

Hipsquatch t1_j86g45t wrote

I only live about a block away from the site of this project, and I say bring it on. Maine needs more housing like this. Don't be a NIMBY.

3

e-rezzy t1_j86otxx wrote

Fuck them. The entire coast of this state is in a housing crisis, resulting in absurd rents. It’s not even like that will really be affordable housing but its still needed. Whether people like it or not the current housing situation in Maine cannot contain the population.

3

Lady-Kat1969 t1_j87cyxp wrote

Not the best location and ugly af. Also, not going to be affordable for normal people. I'd settle for two of the three being fixed before construction starts, but we all know it won't be.

3

vestafell t1_j854aty wrote

lol, charming parking lots

2

DiamondD1997 t1_j85ir6y wrote

The folks of Freeport are fucking idiots if they won’t let some apartments come up for people to live in instead of some shitty corner store or building, fuck the historical integrity, we need to strive forward and there are not enough places to live

2

derpingandlurking t1_j85njiv wrote

Having that density means more foot traffic for all the stores downtown. Local businesses should want this.

2

batsukusa t1_j85p8m1 wrote

I think you will find that those speaking out against the project are in the minority….. speaking as a Freeport resident

2

Ba1thazaar t1_j869yc5 wrote

People always complain about no affordable housing, it's because the boomers who already have houses always oppose things like this. And they're the ones who get to vote on it because they own property.

2

Imgbaah t1_j88kp09 wrote

but this explicitly isn't affordable housing

3

MapoTofuWithRice t1_j873b0d wrote

If you are reading this and live in Freeport, I hope you take the time to speak or write in support of this project. The housing crisis in the state is really bad. Projects like this are our only way out.

2

GrizzlyMainer t1_j88gb16 wrote

Those resisting this are correct. It is against zoning, and the zoning is appropriate in this case.

It is the absolute wrong use for that parcel of land.

It is a terrible location for it. Further up or down Route 1, NOT downtown would be appropriate.

The town should purchase the lot and make it a park. That could host local farm market and artists. To take advantage of the visitors to town.

2

metalandmeeples t1_j88pv79 wrote

Despite the vitriol in these comments, Freeport does have a sizable affording housing stock compared to other "wealthy" Portland suburbs. Freeport High School has about 15% free/reduced lunch. Compare that to other high schools in coastal towns within 20 minutes of Portland:

Scarborough - 8%

Yarmouth - 6%

Greely - 4%

Falmouth - 3%

Cape Elizabeth - 3%

Brunswick is slightly higher at 21%.

2

[deleted] t1_j88up5p wrote

Im not for blocking it but you've lost the thread if you think you can afford this.

2

saltyskwirl t1_j85mf32 wrote

Nothing can change here after I become a local! s/

1

another_one_1886 t1_j85pbql wrote

Yet another example of why Maine has a shortage of affordable housing.

1

nzdastardly t1_j868fgv wrote

Get fukt nimbys. The servant class that keeps your precious businesses running deserve housing.

1

20thMaine t1_j86aa9s wrote

Lol isn’t that a vacant lot now?

1

OptimalReputation821 t1_j86rxzd wrote

Did they raise this objection when LLBean built a parking garage?

1

passthepeanutbutter t1_j87jai3 wrote

Probably, but LLB practically owns the town at this point and can get anything they want.

2

OptimalReputation821 t1_j88pe60 wrote

I lived in Freeport when this project was first proposed and moved away shortly after construction started and I didn’t hear a peep.

1

Character_Nature_896 t1_j86z8se wrote

(millennial here) We don't move to Maine to live in apartments! We move to Maine for little neighborhoods, rural cottages, land with yards, apartments are for our only city but other than that, leave them in Massachusetts. I hate this rhetoric of people being so desperate for housing so let's build some crap and sell it to developers to overprice for them. It's bullshit.

1

Imgbaah t1_j88l8cx wrote

Yes, plus these projects never include any improvements to the surrounding infrastructure (roads OR public transportation) or consider what that influx of traffic will do to the community. This is not affordable housing and the developers aren't proposing this to benefit anyone but themselves.

2

ocho-8-ocho t1_j87f9ns wrote

100% stop trying to turn Northern New England into Massachusetts!

−1

Lightchaser72317 t1_j8725gg wrote

I just moved out of Freeport a year ago because the rents were getting nuts. Lived there 5 years. I had a shitty landlord who kept raising rent but let the house fall apart. and kept dividing other parts of the house into more apartments. When I started living there there were 3 families. 5 when I left.

1

higginsp13 t1_j877aiv wrote

How about we stop fighting literally everyone trying to build more housing.

1

ThaiManLA t1_j87g09r wrote

Get Nimby BS outta here

1

OriginalGordol t1_j87l6n5 wrote

"The charm of Freeport". Uh huh. The charm of overpriced retail stores (even the outlets) and restaurants.

1

anti_materiel t1_j87pkc4 wrote

glad to see hometown hasn’t changed one iota

1

boomajohn20 t1_j8893ez wrote

Who do they think they are …… Sturbridge Village?

1

Nowhere_X_Anywhere t1_j88gd0s wrote

Everyone on here: History/Parking Lots/NiMBYs vs aFForDabLe hOuSIng....REEeeeEeEee WTF!!!!!!

Actual issue: History/Parking Lots/NiMBYs vs Market/above market Luxury 'Housing'

At best this project, if successful, will simply help raise the median rents in Freeport and provide a luxury option for new Maine arrivals with their out of state income and larger economies of scale provided equity reserves.

Nothing about this project will support directly, or even indirectly, housing affordability for lower, lower-middle, or even middle income earners already living working in the area.

I am ambivalent to this project, but misrepresenting or ignoring the actual facts is really pretty lame regardless of what side you fall on.

1

gingerbreadguy t1_j88m41v wrote

https://www.fullstackeconomics.com/p/how-luxury-apartment-buildings-help-low-income-renters

1

Nowhere_X_Anywhere t1_j88o2ed wrote

Based on a non-existant dynamic in Maine currently: demand for housing remaining constant.

Come on do just a little research before regurgitating this same tired trope.

Maine has ever increasing demand pressure on its housing market. Anything outside of directed housing developments that specifically qualify/disqualify based on income, nothing but economic recession/depression and reverse migration are going to lower ME rents.

2

gingerbreadguy t1_j88onkb wrote

But if we don't increase supply it would get even worse, correct? And these potential luxury apartment shoppers would compete for lower end properties that would otherwise be affordable, correct?

1

Nowhere_X_Anywhere t1_j88qvui wrote

If are median incomes can support rentals in the 1k-1.7k range and developer builds apartments targeting a market range of 3.5k-4.5k how exactly does that improve affordability?

You are trying to pretend:

  1. Developers are ignorant to the concept of market saturation (developing pacing or out pacing demand)

  2. Developers are actually interested in developing at a rate that puts the prospect of ever increasing rents rates at risk

  3. Maine has housing demand that is stagnant of can be outpaced by development.

All three are fallacies, born out by decades of data.

I'm ambivalent to this development as we are already talking about a tourist trap developed town.

No this development will not have any downward pressure effect on area rents. Full stop. Quick ignoring facts and readily available data to try and imply otherwise.

These are apartments for higher income out of state workers, at best. More likely these will be long term rentals for higher income snowbirds, wanting to maintain their FL residency to live in the summer, and leave vacant in the winter.

2

nixiedust t1_j88lmll wrote

Maine is a poor state with an aging population. They should build whatever housing they need to to attract younger residents and strengthen the state. Those buildings look fine and most of us think of Freeport as an outlet mall anyway.

1

Crumpetsncoffee t1_j88qcsa wrote

Is this the Konover residential apartment complex coming to Freeport that they are talking about?

1

baxterstate t1_j88x7im wrote

Here’s an argument for building low income housing in town centers across Maine: you can build without providing 1 parking space per unit because many low income people don’t have cars. Vacationers from away won’t want to rent such places. It’ll create a much needed demand for public transportation.

1

dinah-fire t1_j893kli wrote

That's actually one of the cutest modern apartment construction drawings I've ever seen. I'd love it if they built more like that--usually they're hideous

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TigBittyBandit t1_j895ryi wrote

This is some classic NIMBY bullshit. More housing is better for everyone that doesn't own property, keeps rent down and devalues overly inflated home prices

1

derekc06 t1_j897z60 wrote

Who cares either way? Rich homeowners bitching about some rich developers building some condos for rich people?

1

BuddyBear17 t1_j89b0ze wrote

LD 2003 is gonna hit these people like a ton of bricks when they see the amount of density that'll be possible downtown.

1

Cloudrunner5k t1_j89uc7n wrote

Historic, beautiful retail markets and fast food... Fuck them build more housing and make the rent affordable

1

The_Maine_Sam t1_j85xmx4 wrote

This reminds me of the Cape Elizabeth debacle over the affordable housing units in the in town area.

0

Imgbaah t1_j88nkcq wrote

that was another project that looked good on the face but would have done very little good to the people everyone thinks it was going to help - it was all 1 bedroom apartments, not really helping those families they keep talking about, and only a small percentage would have been affordable-housing (and hey, how about instead of crying for low-income housing for teachers and firefighters we...pay them more?) This was 100% going to be full of seniors from MA and NJ who want a second place near the beach.

Its cynicism, not NIMBYism

2

Undaedalus t1_j85yqet wrote

Why on earth would other people support your NIMBYism? It's not their backyards.

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Prestigious_Peach781 t1_j87evmh wrote

We are fucked. This is reality and people moving to Maine. I’m in Topsham 👋🏻

0

farmingmaine t1_j88kw9m wrote

Ya right. The buildings will take away from the shoe factory town Freeport is. Maine Is nothing but an oversized mill town. You live here because you can’t afford to live in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Get real.

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jamkoch t1_j899j1b wrote

Racism really started in the northern states of the US after the end of slavery when former slaves moved north to take the plethora of jobs there. When the blacks moved into the cities, the whites moved out, leaving no real tax base. The whites have been trying to get rid of them ever since.

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WickedLobstahBub t1_j863192 wrote

Who cares, it will all be developed sooner or later

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macesta11 t1_j86n11c wrote

Almost don't want to visit my hometown now. I think they look good, and compared to parking lots..!!! When I lived in So Freeport, we never went "uptown" unless it was absolutely necessary. Glad to see 50 years have changed to feelings. Not!

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Apprehensive_Wing766 t1_j88rngj wrote

"wE hAvE tO sAvE tHe PaRkInG lOtS"

Nah fam, we don't, and I won't

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SnooCats7847 t1_j85l04e wrote

They mean LLBean does not want them to build it.

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CupAdditional5068 t1_j88ec4z wrote

Let's house all the illegal immigrants there for free since Freeport votes democrat

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ppitm t1_j85meac wrote

At this rate they're going to turn me into some Boogaloo type just we can put them up against a wall when the revolution comes.

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snoopye12 t1_j85n4qe wrote

Cry some more will you?

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