Groundbreaking paves way for more affordable senior housing in Bangor

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Bangor Housing held a groundbreaking Wednesday on a project that promises to add 50 units of affordable senior housing.

And that’s just the start.

“It feels like we actually pulled it off. I couldn’t believe it. It’s always been sort of a dream,” said Mike Myatt, executive director, BangorHousing.

A project years in the making is coming to life in Bangor. Dozens of stakeholders involved in the development of Sunridge Senior Housing gathered at the Sunset Avenue location for a groundbreaking Wednesday.

“This doesn’t come together without a really strong, exceptional team of people who are amazing at what they do,” said Elizabeth Hayward, board chair, Bangor Housing Development Corporation.

There’s big money behind the project, which in its first phase is constructing 50 units aimed at adults 55 and older who make roughly between $40,000 and $44,000 annually.

“Twenty-million dollars to build 50 units, which seems ridiculous and crazy, but that’s just what stuff costs. You see the inflation at the grocery store where you see it on a construction site,” Myatt said.

Two-million of that comes from ARPA funds the City of Bangor allocated.

“To have something like this, you know, affordable housing, and new, that’s just great,” said Bangor City Council Chair Rick Fournier.

Walls on the building went up in less than 24 hours. They’re hoping to have the roof on by Thanksgiving and aiming for June as a move-in date for the first residents.

“It’s moving on a little bit faster than typically what you see, and the fact that there’ll be 50 more units going over on the other side will be great,” Fournier said.

A four-acre lot the University of Maine System previously owned just next door will eventually be home to an additional 50 units.

It’s just a drop in the bucket of how much housing Maine needs overall, but BangorHousing says they’re proud of their efforts to help.

“We’re the oldest state in the country. If we’re not providing housing for our seniors, it’s going to be a crisis in the next few years if we don’t build more,” Myatt said.

“At a foundational level, having a roof over your head gives you the ability to have a launch pad, if you will. Food, water, shelter — those are the foundational needs that everyone has as a human being,” said Hayward.

There will be 44 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units available when construction is complete.

Applications are now open. You can call BangorHousing or visit their website to apply.