AUGUSTA (WGME) — Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis.
It involves repurposing vacant schools and providing towns the support to do so.
Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)
Bill sponsor Traci Gere is calling it a common sense solution.
“It’s a win-win for everyone involved. The community, the folks who will be living there in the future and the developers,” Gere said.
Data from the state shows there are more than two dozen vacant school buildings across Maine. Gabe Gauvin from the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority says some towns don’t have the means to do anything about it.
“Demographic trends indicate closures will continue. This list stands to grow dramatically,” Gauvin said.
Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)
Gauvin and the Maine Development Land Bank Authority support Gere’s bill.
It would establish the Vacant School Housing Conversion program, along with a $5 million annual fund to support school conversions. Gere says it not only fulfills the ongoing need for housing but also rehabilitates buildings already in the community.
“It does really have that warm place in the community’s heart. People don’t want to see it deteriorate and fall apart. People want to see it used for productive reuse, whether it’s for something that is housing related,” Gere said. “We want to make sure to leverage those and use those sources as much as possible to make sure these buildings become housing that people can affordable.”
Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)
Gauvin says the money would go towards helping municipalities pay costs for planning, construction and infrastructure improvements.
If passed, the bill would also mandate the Redevelopment Housing Authority to submit an annual report to the legislature on the group’s progress.
