Bath Housing starts work on 47-unit apartment complex for older adults
A rendering of the future Anchorage South, an affordable apartment complex for adults 55 and older to be built at 80 Congress Ave. in Bath. (Courtesy of Ryan Senatore Architects)
Bath Housing last week broke ground on an income-limited apartment complex for adults age 55 and up. The development, Anchorage South, is part of a multiyear plan to add nearly 200 housing units along Congress Avenue priced for a range of incomes.
The four-story, 47-unit apartment community located at 80 Congress Ave. will replace the Anchorage, an outdated property that also serves low-income older adults.
The 33 residents currently living in the 1970s-era building will have the option to move into Anchorage South when it opens, according to Bath Housing. The housing agency plans to demolish the old Anchorage development once residents move into their new homes to make way for more housing.
Ouellet Construction is building the complex, which is expected to take about 16 months to complete, according to Bath Housing. Residents will move in around early 2028.
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To make way for the project, Bath Housing demolished its administrative office, built in 1992, and moved its operations to another one of its properties at 520 Centre St.
The new apartments will be available to tenants 55-plus who earn 60% or less of the area median income.
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The housing agency said Anchorage South will be more accessible, comfortable and energy efficient than the older Anchorage property.
Most of the Anchorage South units have project-based vouchers, meaning qualified tenants will pay about 30% of their income in rent. The remaining few units will go for about $1,200 per month. Those interested in renting can reach out to the Bath Housing office.
The staff of Bath Housing stands above the site of the future Anchorage South apartment complex on Oct. 22. (Courtesy of Bath Housing)
Residents of the Anchorage participated in planning and designing the new apartment complex, according to Bath Housing.
“Our goal was not simply to replace an aging property, but to provide current residents with a better housing option while allowing them to remain part of their community,” said Debora Keller, Bath Housing executive director.
In the coming years, Bath Housing is planning 84 market-rate housing units for workers at 150 Congress Ave. and a series of small house lots at the 100 Congress Ave. site of the Anchorage, once residents move into their new homes. As part of this long-term vision, Bath Housing set aside 10 acres to be conserved through the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust.
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Tagged: affordable housing, aging, housing
Katie covers Brunswick, Bath and Freeport for the Times Record. She was previously the weekend reporter at the Portland Press Herald and is originally from the Hudson Valley region of upstate New York. More by Katie Langley
