Yarmouth breaks ground on 18 affordable housing units behind town hall
Yarmouth Breaks Ground on First Affordable Housing Project in Eight Years
Yarmouth, Maine – The town of Yarmouth celebrated a new milestone for affordable housing with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, 36 Cleaves Street, the site of 18 one‑bedroom apartments that will bring a much‑needed supply of low‑cost homes to the community.
The project, developed by 36 Cleaves Street, LLC, is the town’s first affordable‑housing construction since the 2018 completion of Bartlett Woods, a 28‑unit senior‑living complex built through a partnership between Avesta Housing and Yarmouth Senior Housing. The new development will consist of two buildings—one of them an eight‑unit structure—housing a total of 18 units, each designed to accommodate one resident or a two‑person household.
A Long‑Term Effort Comes to Life
Yarmouth’s journey toward increased affordable housing began in 2020 with the establishment of the Yarmouth Affordable Housing Committee, a body created to assess the town’s housing needs and recommend strategies. In 2024 the Town Council adopted an ambitious target: to add 431 affordable units over the next decade. The Cleaves Street project is the first tangible step toward that goal.
“We’re laying the foundation for a more inclusive, welcoming, and resilient community,” said Council Chair David Craig at the ceremony. “We’re leading by example by authorizing this project to be built right here in the heart of the village, literally in the Town’s Hall’s backyard.”
The nonprofit Yarmouth Housing Collaborative, formed by residents three years ago, played a key role in bringing the project to fruition. Executive director and board chair Margaret Downing noted, “We’re not developers, but we’re the spark.”
Funding and Affordability
The $6.3 million project is funded largely through state assistance. MaineHousing provided a $3.1 million subsidy from the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program and a $2.9 million interest‑free loan, according to a MaineHousing spokesperson. The developer expects the monthly rent for each unit—including utilities—to be $1,800.
Eligibility will be based on income relative to the area median. In 2027, when applications open, single‑person households must earn less than $77,920, while two‑person households must earn less than $89,040—both amounts equaling 80 % of the area median income.
Construction Timeline and Local Impact
Work began earlier this week and is slated to take one year. The buildings should be fully enclosed by January 2027. While construction will temporarily reconfigure parking at Town Hall, town staff have assured residents that the impact will be limited. The ballot drop box currently behind Town Hall will soon be moved to the horseshoe parking lot between the front of Town Hall and Memorial Green.
Looking Ahead
The Cleaves Street development marks a turning point for Yarmouth’s housing landscape, which has seen only one new affordable‑housing project in the past twenty years. With the town’s 2024 goal of 431 units and the Yarmouth Housing Collaborative’s ongoing advocacy, the new apartments represent both a concrete addition to the town’s housing stock and a symbol of the community’s commitment to inclusivity.
As the town looks forward to the completion of these units, the hope is that the new homes will help to secure a stable, affordable future for Yarmouth’s residents.
