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full size factory of the future building UMO - photo is credited to the University of Maine

MEREDA’s Morning Menu – MEREDA Welcomes Dr. Habib Dagher, Executive Director, Advanced Structures and Composites Center, UMO

November 17, 2025

December 16, 2025 - 8:30 - 10:00 amBuffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 amProgram: 9:00-10:00 am Location: McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME About the Event:Dr. Habib Dagher will provide ...

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Nominations Now Being Accepted for MEREDA’s 2025 Notable Project Awards

November 14, 2025

Each year, MEREDA identifies and recognizes the most noteworthy and significant Maine commercial development projects from the previous year, all of which embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible development. Nominations are ...

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Aerial view of Notable Project Receipient Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment

The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment (Portland)

November 4, 2025

MEREDA Recognizes its 2024 Notable Project Award Recipients - Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate ...

MEREDA Recognizes its 2024 Notable Project Award Recipients - Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine’s economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide. This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA’s 2025 “Notable Night” social celebration in May. In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine’s economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation. Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural “Groundbreaking Maine” publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025 MEREDA’s 2024 Top 9 recipients include: Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough) 99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta) The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland) Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Care (Belfast) Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS) Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook) Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook) Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland) Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland) Please join us this week in celebrating Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment. MEREDA: Describe the building and project. NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties: Redevelopment of the Mercy Hospital State Street campus into a high-density, mixed-income residential campus featuring 260 new apartments and 9 new homes, a self-storage facility, and several small retail spaces is an excellent example of smart growth. The project involved adaptive reuse of the historic hospital building, creation of outdoor public space in a shared woonerf, improvements to existing utility infrastructure, implementation of a Traffic Demand Management Plan to encourage and support alternative forms of transportation, and provision of a range of housing choice (market rate, affordable, and workforce), both for rent and for sale. In addition, the redevelopment transformed surface parking into housing, recreated the street wall along Winter Street, and stitched back together the neighborhood that had been divided when the hospital was built. MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project? NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties: 2Northern Light Mercy Hospital issued a Request for Proposals in July of 2018. NewHeight Group was invited to respond along with approximately 50 other firms. NHG submitted a proposal in November 2018 with development team members Community Housing of Maine and the Portland Housing Authority. In December of 2018, NHG was one of three teams invited to interview with the selection committee. In January 2019, NewHeight Group’s successful best and final proposal was selected. MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started? NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties: In October of 2019 NewHeight Group executed the Purchase & Sale agreement with Northern Light Health. In December of that year, NewHeight Group entered into an agreement with Redfern Properties to complete the project as 50/50 partners. The acquisition was finalized in February of 2020 (just three weeks before Covid hit!), and the development team launched into rezoning the property, planning, permitting, extension of the period of significance for the existing National Register district, local historic approvals, Part 1 approval from the National Park Service, and hiring Zachau Construction as Construction Manager at-Risk. The project was granted full planning board approval in August of 2021. MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed. NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties: This project had myriad challenges. Perhaps the largest was that Mercy Hospital, the primary building, was an operating hospital right up until construction start, so the development team was unable to do any exploratory demolition prior to construction start. The building was known to contain asbestos containing material (mostly pipe wrap), but exactly how much was unknown. The building’s low ceilings also presented significant design and coordination challenges. The project also included undergrounding of existing utilities to make room for three new buildings along Winter Street—an extraordinarily complicated undertaking in this location. MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was…. NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties: The development team was surprised to discover that what appeared to be original historic wooden columns buried in the walls were in fact made of concrete wrapped in a wooden veneer. While it is less surprising that many people feel a connection to the old hospital building – births, deaths, a long tenure as employee – the overwhelming number of people with a connection was a surprise. MEREDA: Now that it’s complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable? NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties: Perhaps the most notable element of this project is the woonerf, a Dutch term meaning “Street for Living” which describes a space shared by pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. The woonerf is interior to the block between the historic hospital building now known as the Nightingale, and the two new construction affordable apartment buildings developed by Community Housing of Maine in partnership with the Portland Housing Authority. The woonerf functions as a shared public outdoor space and binds the buildings into a campus. The flush condition of the woonerf, along with landscaping and seating, invites pedestrian use while also allowing for slow vehicle movement and parking.

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MEREDA’s Fall Conference outlines challenges and opportunities

October 28, 2025

Portland, Maine - MEREDA hosted its Fall Conference on October 23rd where nearly 300 real estate professionals gathered at USM’s Hannaford Hall. The focus of the half-day conference was to ...

Portland, Maine - MEREDA hosted its Fall Conference on October 23rd where nearly 300 real estate professionals gathered at USM’s Hannaford Hall. The focus of the half-day conference was to discuss the challenges faced when completing housing projects and to learn about innovative approaches to increasing the number of housing units completed. Housing creation is one of Maine’s most significant needs and MEREDA’s event provided an opportunity for industry professionals to hear different perspectives from local, regional, and national experts on this important and complex issue. “MEREDA is actively working on solutions at the State and local levels,” explained Shannon Richards, founder of Hay Runner and MEREDA’s volunteer president. “This conference is an opportunity for MEREDA members to hear firsthand from peers who are actively involved in the housing effort on a daily basis.” The conference opened with a keynote presentation from Dr. Christopher Herbert, Managing Director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, who cautioned the audience to be prepared for some gloom and doom. As he explained, there’s no silver bullet for the housing crisis. Home affordability is an issue nationwide with no simple solution. And although the situation here is dire, Dr. Herbert assured the audience that housing isn’t as bad in Maine as it is in other parts of the country. And, he left the audience with the optimistic notion that there are innovative – and feasible -- solutions. The morning continued with a mid-year economic update from Kenneth J. Entenmann, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist, NBT Bank/NBT Wealth. Entenmann looked at the impact of tariffs, immigration, taxes and regulation on housing and the overall economy. He sees no sign of a deep dark recession and sees strength in the economy. However, he doesn’t see much that would improve affordability for first-time home buyers. Summing things up, Entenmann said, “Overall, things are less uncertain that a year ago. That doesn’t mean they are all better, but the market does like certainty.” Elizabeth Frazier, Partner at Pierce Atwood, moderated a discussion on municipal challenges faced not only by developers, but also by municipalities. Panelists included Vanessa L. Farr from Haley Ward, Hope Eye from Eastern Maine Development Corp., and Benjamin R.K. Breadmore from the Town of Holden. In that discussion it became clear that with municipal budgets stretched thin, code enforcement officers often carry additional responsibilities, and some ideas were presented to improve the consistency of code enforcement and expediency of permitting. Dr. Herbert returned to the stage to lead a discussion on innovative solutions. The panel included Rebecca Hatfield from Hancock Lumber, Kyle Barker from Primary Projects, and Chris Marshall from GreenMars. The group discussed the pros and cons of a wide variety of housing solutions ranging from modular and panelized construction to tiny homes, condos, single family homes, and co-housing ideas. To make these ideas workable solutions would require some changes both in terms of zoning and expectations of the marketplace. The consensus of the panel was that while not everything will work, it is worth trying new approaches to the development of housing units of all types. With our need for more housing becoming more dire every moment, having collaborative discussions and learning of other creative building solutions is essential for Maine’s future success. MEREDA remains committed to creating the opportunities for experts and novices from all walks of real estate to come together and work together on meaningful solutions that benefit all.

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The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station (T3 R7 WELS)

September 2, 2025

MEREDA Recognizes its 2024 Notable Project Award Recipients - Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine’s economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide. This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA’s 2025 “Notable Night” social celebration in May. In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine’s economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation. Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural “Groundbreaking Maine” publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025 MEREDA’s 2024 Top 9 recipients include: Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough) 99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta) The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland) Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Care (Belfast) Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS) Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook) Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook) Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland) Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland) Please join us this week in celebrating Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station. Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is a stunning 7,900 square-foot building and 23-acre site atop Lookout Mountain created to welcome the global public to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The monument is located within the present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation. All Wabanaki Cultural Knowledge and Intellectual Property shared within this project is owned by the Wabanaki Nations. MEREDA: Describe the building and project. Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation: The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is a 7,896-square-foot visitor center situated atop Lookout Mountain within the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine. The name "Tekαkαpimək," pronounced deh gah-gah bee mook, is Penobscot for "as far as one can see," reflecting the expansive views the site offers. The building's design emphasizes sustainability, utilizing locally sourced materials where possible and operates off-grid. The interior features interpretive exhibits that provide visitors with insights into the natural and cultural significance of the monument, particularly through a Wabanaki perspective. The surrounding 23-acre site includes accessible walking paths, gathering circles, and overlooks that honor the traditions and heritage of the Wabanaki Nations. The Site was connected to the existing infrastructure through the construction of approximately 4-miles of access roads. In support of this project, Haley Ward has provided a wide range of services from concept through completion. Our team provided planning, surveying, permitting, site/utility design, roadway design, bridge design, and structural engineering, all with careful collaboration with the Client, Design Team, and National Park Service. Other members of the Design Team included Saunders Architecture and Alisberg Parker (Architecture), Wright-Ryan Construction (Contractor), Salas O’ Brien, formerly known as Allied Engineering (MEP), Reed Hildebrand (Landscape Architecture), Atelier One (Structural Engineering Lead, Transsolar, Inc. (Environmental/Energy Consultant), Erin Hutton Projects (Creative Program Management), We Should Do It All (Exhibits, Wayfinding and Signage Design), University of Maine (Structural Testing), Emery Lee & Sons, Inc. (Sitework Subcontractors), ODP Trailworks (Sitework Subcontractors), JQP, Inc. (Accessibility Consultant), Wabanaki Advisory Board (Project/Exhibit Consultants), Dr. Jane Anderson (Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Consultant), Tuhura Communications (Interpretive Plan) and Elliotsville Foundation, Inc. (Project Manager and Owner’s Representative). All parties worked together throughout design and construction to realize the vision of Elliotsville Foundation. MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project? Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument was formally established by Presidential Proclamation on August 24, 2016, with land donated by Roxanne Quimby-– a cofounder of the international brand Burt’s Bees--through Elliotsville Foundation (EFI). Monument Lands are located within the present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation and are an important crossroads for all of the Wabanaki Nations in Maine: Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Mi'kmaq. With the donation of land to the Department of the Interior, time-limited reserved rights were written into certain deeds that allowed for EFI as a private entity to build a Visitor Contact Station - a unique opportunity create an interpretive site from the ground up that is imbued with Wabanaki worldviews, which are often erased, inadequate, or represented by colonized versions of Indigenous stories in public sites. Early visitation to the national monument has been impressive. The National Park Service estimates that in 20 years, Katahdin Woods and Waters will host 250,000 visitors annually. To propel the early emergence of the Monument as an outstanding addition to America’s national parks, it was important to design and develop infrastructure necessary for people to discover and experience KWW’s exceptional resources. In 2019, EFI elected to exercise its reserved right to build a Welcome Center as singular as its surroundings - a facility as inspiring as the expansive forest and waterways of the land itself. MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started? Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation: Haley Ward has been deeply engaged in various projects for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument since 2018. MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed. Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation: The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station demanded careful consideration of both aesthetics and structural integrity. It was imperative that the building not only endure the test of time but also harmonize seamlessly with its natural surroundings, reflecting the essence of Maine craftsmanship. However, bringing this vision to fruition was no simple task. The existing site conditions and architectural vision of the building necessitated the need for complex and unique solutions. MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was…. Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation: In its infancy it was not clear the scale or level of detail this undertaking would require. It’s not every day that an owner fully embraces the design process and places this much value on the collaborative effort of the entire design team to analyze every detail. The result is a truly spectacular facility that incorporates the ideas and visions of so many. This proved just how much of a difference can be made when we are given the opportunity to go the extra mile and consider so many different points of view. MEREDA: Now that it’s complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable? Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation: The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, situated within Maine's Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, stands out for several notable features including its design, sustainability, and collaborative development. The 7,900-square-foot building showcases a design inspired by Wabanaki architectural traditions, featuring intersecting wings that gently curve and cantilever into the tree canopy. Constructed primarily with locally sourced materials, the structure emphasizes sustainability. It operates off-grid, utilizing a 36.75 kW solar array for electricity, and incorporates passive heating and cooling systems to minimize environmental impact. Named "Tekαkαpimək," a Penobscot term meaning "as far as one can see," the contact station was developed through a collaborative process involving the Wabanaki Nations, the National Park Service, and the Elliotsville Foundation. This partnership ensured that the design and exhibits authentically reflect the rich cultural heritage of the region. The building features original artworks and interpretive content that provide a Wabanaki perspective on the area's natural and human history.

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Registration is Open! MEREDA’s 2025 Fall Conference – The Housing Crisis: Can we Crack the Code?

September 2, 2025

The MEREDA Fall Conference 2025 will take a hard look at the housing sector. Experienced leaders in the Maine real estate economy will discuss the challenges and opportunities in creating ...

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The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Seaport Community Health Center (Belfast)

August 12, 2025

MEREDA Recognizes its 2024 Notable Project Award Recipients - Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine’s economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide. This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA’s 2025 “Notable Night” social celebration in May. In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine’s economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation. Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural “Groundbreaking Maine” publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025 MEREDA’s 2024 Top 9 recipients include: Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough) 99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta) The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland) Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Care (Belfast) Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS) Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook) Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook) Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland) Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland) Please join us this week in celebrating Seaport Community Health Center. MEREDA: Describe the building and project. Penobscot Community Health Care: Penobscot Community Health Care’s (PCHC) new Seaport Community Health Center arose from a dire need to expand that began in 2017 with no capacity to accept new patients, no space for dental care, and a new landlord not interested in a long-term lease. With a vision, they set out on a nine-month search to find a suitable new location and kept coming back to the nearby, mostly vacant five-building, 318,979 square foot, 142-acre former MBNA Bank of America complex in Belfast, Maine. Following PCHC’s purchase of the entire campus, $9.6 million in financing by Evernorth Rural Ventures’ New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), PCHC, and CapitalOne, N.A., acquired and renovated one of the buildings, creating: • 1st floor exam, behavioral health, and consultation rooms; large patient lobby and reception area; staff offices, conference room, breakroom, and kitchen totaling 35,295 square feet; and • 2nd floor 35,295 square feet gray box space for the fit out and equipping of a future dental practice and other related services. MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project? Penobscot Community Health Care: Prior to the project the health center operated in 11,727 square feet of leased space 0.3 miles away. The new facility enables an expanded Seaport Community Health Center to attract new providers and serve more patients, and respond to a growing rural, medically underserved population. PCHC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit federally qualified health center (FQHC). It is the largest FQHC in Maine and second largest in New England. A FQHC is a federally funded nonprofit health center or clinic that serves medically underserved areas and populations. Primary care services, fully integrated with behavioral health care, are provided on a sliding scale fee based on a patient’s annual income and family size. MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started? Penobscot Community Health Care: PCHC purchased the complex in December 2021 – it was never their intent to be real estate developers but this was the best solution for their expansion needs. From the outset, PCHC was and remains fortunate to have Bank of America as the anchor tenant and a stable partner. To complete the project, PCHC needed to raise or borrow approximately $2.8 million in additional capital to fill a gap following capital secured from the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and PCHC’s own capital. At market rates in 2023 financing would cost $4.5 million of additional cost, rendering the project economically unviable. The patient, flexible, below market NMTC financing from Evernorth reduced the debt load freeing up funds to accomplish the expansion project. MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed. Penobscot Community Health Care: Challenges that arose during the two years from purchasing the property to opening the doors to patients included increased costs, staff shortages, labor shortages, a global pandemic, delays resulting from the financing structure creating a gap in the development budget, redrafting of documents and discovering that the 316,579 square foot ‘white elephant’ facility – built by MBNA all as one building and connected and not ‘cut up’ so PCHC had to navigate the legal, permitting, and design process to create condos - stand-alone structures, disconnecting the building for it to be redeveloped. MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was…. Penobscot Community Health Care: Some unexpected situations that arose included miles and miles of data cables throughout the buildings that could not be used; trying to repurpose hundreds of left behind cubicles and chairs, mechanical systems that had sat dormant for years including 35 existing commercial heat pump units that all needed maintenance. Words of advice from the folks at PCHC: When taking on an endeavor of this size, really do the due diligence and surround yourself with people who are experienced vs learning along with you. MEREDA: Now that it’s complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable? Penobscot Community Health Care: Now that the new health center is open and thriving, some notable outcomes include: The accessible waiting room is the most notable, spacious, clean and professional, the private patient check in service areas built within the common areas, the full service pharmacy – and the well apportioned exam rooms and private space for employees. Externally, PCHC has opened the enclosed atrium space for community use, hosting the weekly Belfast Winter Farmers’ Market. Most notable is how PCHC’s vision, investment, and blazing the path ahead has invigorated local developers to reimagine the remaining vacant spaces in the complex. PCHC’s investment brought life back into the campus, laying the foundation for redevelopment of the remaining buildings and parcels, stimulating future private investment within the designated low-income community for other important community services such as childcare and affordable housing. All bringing more awareness to the Seaport Community Health and its critical service to the community.

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MEREDA Matters is Back for Season 3

August 1, 2025

This dynamic podcast puts you in the room with Maine's real estate industry leaders, featuring insider conversations delivering fresh insights from the voices driving responsible development in Maine. We're excited ...

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MEREDA Elects Officers & Recognizes Retiring Board Members

July 23, 2025

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association Board of Directors elected its 2025 / 2026 slate of officers which include President Shannon Richards of Hay Runner, Vice President Jennifer Small of Malone Commercial Brokers, ...

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association Board of Directors elected its 2025 / 2026 slate of officers which include President Shannon Richards of Hay Runner, Vice President Jennifer Small of Malone Commercial Brokers, Treasurer Mark Stasium of Camden National Bank, and Secretary Shelly R. Clark, who also serves full time as MEREDA’s Executive Director. MEREDA also announces retirements from its Board of Directors. Craig Young, CCIM, Partner, Broker at The Boulos Company has retired from the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) Board of Directors after 10 years of service. During this period, Craig also served on MEREDA's Conference and Executive Committees. In 2021, MEREDA honored Craig with its Volunteer of the Year Award which recognizing individuals who generously share their time, talents, and energy with the organization. We are beyond grateful for the expertise and commitment he has contributed to MEREDA. His strategic insights and collaborative spirit helped guide important decisions that will benefit our organization for years to come. Jason Favreau, a skilled Certified Public Accountant, and Principal in BerryDunn’s Tax Services team leading the firm’s Real Estate practice, served as a contributing member of MEREDA’s Board of Directors for the past 12 years. During this time, Jason was named as chair of the Membership & Marketing Committee, a position he held for 10 years. He was awarded MEREDA’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015 and appointed Vice President of the organization in 2023. Jason’s hands-on approach and willingness to take on additional responsibilities made him an invaluable asset to both the board and the broader MEREDA community. Also retiring after 14 years is Matt Early, Senior Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking at Maine Community Bank. Matt participated for many years on MEREDA’s Membership & Marketing Committee, where he helped identify new opportunities for member engagement while contributing to the committee's broader mission of advancing MEREDA's impact within the industry. We thank Matt's for his participation and the valuable insights he brought to our membership development efforts. "These exceptional professionals demonstrate the committed stewardship that proves essential to a volunteer-driven organization such as MEREDA. We deeply value their dedication and contributions," said Shelly R. Clark, MEREDA's Executive Director. "Their efforts have made a meaningful impact on our organization."

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The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on The Malone Family Tower (Portland)

July 22, 2025

Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects ...

Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine’s economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide. This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA’s 2025 “Notable Night” social celebration in May. In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine’s economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation. Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural “Groundbreaking Maine” publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025 MEREDA’s 2024 Top 9 recipients include: Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough) 99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta) The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland) Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Center (Belfast) Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS) Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook) Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook) Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland) Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland) Please join us this week in celebrating The Malone Family Tower. MEREDA: Describe the building and project. MaineHealth and Perkins&Will: The Malone Family Tower is an 8-story addition to Maine Medical Center’s historic campus in Portland, Maine. The new tower, designed by Perkins&Will, is the culmination of a decade-long partnership between the architecture firm and MaineHealth Maine Medical Center to enhance patient access to hospital-based care, create more private rooms, and facilitate better patient outcomes. Serving as a welcoming gateway to the campus along Congress Street, a major artery in Portland, Maine Medical Center is the primary hospital serving the State of Maine and the building draws inspiration from its sense of place. Built on the site of a former parking garage, the Malone Family Tower re-establishes a lost connection with the city. The tower enables a beautiful and navigable transition from the urban street up to the historic campus on the hill. The transparency of the building facade along Congress Street activates a previously dark streetscape and illuminates the hospital’s mission to welcome and heal the community. MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project? MaineHealth and Perkins&Will: Approaching 150 years in service and faced with an aging campus, hospital leadership wanted to remain at the location of their founding but needed to address urgent infrastructure and community needs such as inefficient space allocation, population growth, and a shortage of surgical beds. The tower creates 19 procedure rooms, 40 pre- and post-surgical bays, and 96 universal patient rooms that can be transitioned from ICU to Medical/Surgical beds to allow for the hospital to adapt as patient volumes and acuities require over time. This project transcends a single building, representing the hospital’s evolution as it balances the demands of modern healthcare for a community, while serving as an anchor to the city and investing in the State’s sustainable future. MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started? MaineHealth and Perkins&Will: The tower is the culmination of a decade-long development initiative to increase access to hospital-based care, create more private rooms, and facilitate better patient outcomes. Initial planning stages started in 2015 with a detailed analysis of Maine Medical Center’s existing facilities and identification of growth and renewal opportunities, which resulted in a comprehensive implementation plan for several major enabling, renovation and addition projects. As the largest ground-up construction of this planning and development initiative, the Malone Family Tower opened in its doors to patients in June of 2024, creating a new gateway to the hospital campus. MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed. MaineHealth and Perkins&Will: Healthcare delivery evolves rapidly, often outpacing built environments. To address this, the project’s clinical spaces prioritize flexibility and universality. Patient rooms are sized and configured to accommodate a range of patient acuities. Critical Care (ICU) functions dictated larger rooms for clinical access. Required support functions including bathrooms and visitor space within each room allow for less intensive clinical uses ensuring patients heal. In this thoughtful planning, rooms can be converted to meet patient acuity without the need to build new or renovate existing spaces as needs change. Budget, site limitations, and construction challenges also shaped the project. The tight location between two city streets and a large retaining wall, dictated the available footprint per floor to meet desired program. The earth retention system required to shore the hill and allow the construction of the building was a complex engineering challenge. However, this work was vital to allow the hospital to be located where it was and connect the existing campus with Congress Street. MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was…. MaineHealth and Perkins&Will: During design, it became clear that the Malone Family Tower could also become a catalyst for increasing overall campus performance and improve energy efficiency across the campus’ aging buildings. Strategic relocation of the new Sterile Processing Department within the tower optimized campus energy use by repurposing it to a more efficient site. The project increased campus-wide chilled water demand, which enabled year-round operation of the Central Utility Plant and centralized cooling, leading to a 15% energy savings overall. Balancing energy performance with the greater good of the campus, the tower ultimately achieves a Site Energy-Use Intensity (EUI) of 224 kbtu/sf/yr, which is below the national EUI average. MEREDA: Now that it’s complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable? MaineHealth and Perkins&Will: The building’s massing is expressive of the program organization and the rifting forms are reminiscent of Maine’s shifting geology. The rugged stone, woods, and water of the Maine coastline inspired design, form, and material choices. A striking, jaggedly faceted façade opens into a soaring seven-story atrium that visually connects the public concourse to clinical spaces and lounges for visitors and staff. The building pulls daylight and green space from up the hill down through the atrium to re-establish the urban edge. A green roof and urban plazas feature native flora interspersed with benches and rocky outcroppings, reminiscent of the local ecology. Strategically placed openings in the exterior cladding reveal city views and the nearby Fore River; internally, open views into patient rooms from hallways facilitate care and connection.

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MEREDA Announces Appointments to Board of Directors

July 21, 2025

PORTLAND, Maine (July 21, 2025) – Lenny Rendell of Gorham, John Finegan of South Portland, and Justin Laverriere of North Yarmouth have been elected to the board of directors of ...

PORTLAND, Maine (July 21, 2025) – Lenny Rendell of Gorham, John Finegan of South Portland, and Justin Laverriere of North Yarmouth have been elected to the board of directors of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a statewide organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers. Lenny Rendell, a Principal at BerryDunn is an accomplished finance professional with 16 years of experience in consulting, compliance, and advisory services, supporting business owners and executives. A recognized leader within the real estate practice at BerryDunn, with a proven track record of guiding clients – particularly hospitality and real estate developers, owners and investors – through complex financial challenges. Lenny has been active on MEREDA’s Membership & Marketing committee since January 2024. Lenny received his M.S in Accounting from the University of New Hampshire in 2009. John Finegan is an Associate Broker at The Boulos Company which he joined in 2020. John works throughout Greater Portland in all areas of commercial real estate including the buying, selling, and leasing of office, retail, industrial, and multifamily family properties. John also works on ground-up development, with a particular focus on workforce development. He has a strong interest in economic policymaking at the local and state level, and he serves as the co-chair for MEREDA’s Local Issues Committee. John is a 2014 graduate of University of New Hampshire with a dual major in Finance and Accounting. Justin Laverriere is Vice president, Commercial Banking Officer at Maine Community Bank which he joined in 2017. Justin brings proven expertise in commercial banking and real estate finance, with a distinguished track record of managing a commercial loan portfolio exceeding $150 million while developing comprehensive marketing strategies to increase market share. His strategic approach combines cultivating professional relationships with key market influencers, comprehensive financial analysis, and specialized transaction expertise including historic tax credit projects and interest rate swap transactions. Justin is also an active participant on MEREDA’s Conference Committee. "We're thrilled to welcome Lenny, John, and Justin as our newest board members," announced Shelly R. Clark, MEREDA's Executive Director. "Each brings unique strengths in real estate, development, and investment that will support our ability to advance MEREDA’s important work. As MEREDA continues its mission to support responsible development, these accomplished professionals will help drive our vision forward with their combined experience and unwavering commitment to our goals."

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The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on 99 Western Apartments (Augusta)

July 8, 2025

Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine’s economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide. This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA’s 2025 “Notable Night” social celebration in May. In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine’s economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation. Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural “Groundbreaking Maine” publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025 MEREDA’s 2024 Top 9 recipients include: Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough) 99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta) The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland) Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Center (Belfast) Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS) Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook) Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook) Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland) Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland) Please join us this week in celebrating 99 Western Apartments. MEREDA: Describe the building and project. Mastway Development: Mastway Development partnered with MaineHousing to create 99 Western Apartments through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. This project revitalized a long-vacant and blighted property along Augusta’s primary thoroughfare. The deteriorated office building was demolished, making way for 38 new, high-quality affordable apartments. Located within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and essential services—and just minutes from the interstate—the development provides much-needed housing in a highly accessible location. MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project? Mastway Development: Mastway Development specializes in redeveloping underutilized properties, and 99 Western presented a prime opportunity. The site’s existing curbside utilities and large parking area made it an ideal location for new infill housing. Augusta, like much of Kennebec County, faces a pressing housing shortage, and the overwhelming demand for units—resulting in the building filling up faster than anticipated—demonstrates the need for more developments like this. MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started? Mastway Development: Our design team and contractors were exceptional! Planning and coordination began 13 months before construction, and Augusta’s staff was highly supportive in helping us navigate the Planning Board, City Council, and Affordable Housing TIF approval processes. MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed. Mastway Development: The site posed multiple challenges—it’s under three-quarters of an acre, located on a high-traffic corridor, and surrounded by an established urban neighborhood. Some neighbors initially opposed the project, citing concerns about parking, traffic, and access. However, thoughtful design and a respectful construction approach helped address these concerns, and the completed project has integrated well into the community. MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was…. Mastway Development: Although Mastway Development has extensive experience building housing, this was our first project utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. We expected strong demand, but what surprised us was how many applicants were actually overqualified due to income restrictions. MaineHousing sets rental rates and income limits at 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), and while this project filled a critical need, we also saw firsthand the demand for housing at slightly higher income levels that remains unmet. MEREDA: Now that it’s complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable? Mastway Development: The combination of curb appeal and energy efficiency sets 99 Western apart. The building is visually appealing from all sides, featuring clean architectural lines and thoughtful details. Tenants consistently praise the quality and comfort compared to other apartments they’ve lived in. Additionally, the building’s energy-efficient design—including a super-insulated envelope, heat pumps, and rooftop solar—ensures comfortable, sustainable, and cost-effective living for residents.

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MEREDA Releases the MEREDA Index Report for 2024

June 26, 2025

MEREDA has released its 19th edition of The MEREDA Index. As a key economic indicator for Maine, the MEREDA Index measures the pulse of the state’s real estate industry and is ...

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Listen Up! We’re Doubling Up for Your Listening Pleasure and Have Added a Second June Episode!

June 24, 2025

A Conversation with Corinne Watson of Tiny Homes of Maine and Kevin Hancock of Hancock Lumber Corinne Watson, Co-Founder of Tiny Homes of Maine, and Kevin Hancock, Managing Owner of ...

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