YIMBYers extol the virtues of development

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), the state’s leading organization advocating for responsible real estate development, convened a conference last month entitled, "Yes-In-My-Backyard: Why Development is Good."

“Renewed interest in Maine’s cities and downtowns have placed pressure on communities to build in unprecedented ways. Recognizing the crippling effect of NIMBY, or ‘not in my backyard,’ ways of thinking,” said MEREDA president Paul Peck in announcing the event. “The ‘yes in my backyard,’ or ‘YIMBY,’ movement is an overt counterargument to oppositional mindsets – and is gaining traction quickly.”

Jesse Kanson-Benanav, a Boston area YIMBY pioneer keynoted the conference. He is an instrumental leader in the movement, and set the stage for a discussion about how to move development forward, with an update on the present status of pro-growth efforts and implications for the future of communities.

Maine’s second biggest industry as healthy as it’s been in 11 years

Maine’s real estate sector reached its highest point in 11 years, with the industry metric that measures the health of the market, The MEREDA Index, coming in at 96. The MEREDA Index grew by more than 7% over 2016, the strongest growth since the recession.

Maine Real Estate & Development Association Elects Josh Fifield to its Board of Directors

Josh Fifield, a Senior Account Executive in the Business Insurance Department of Clark Insurance has 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.

Since joining Clark Insurance, a 100 percent employee-owned independent agency, Josh has built a reputation for understanding the complexities of real estate development to help insure large affordable housing projects, commercial developments and industrial properties, including insurance solutions for state and federal historic & LIHTC tax credits.

MEREDA’s 5th Anniversary “Strikes for Scholars” Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser on May 4th Raises Funds for Scholarships for 16 Maine Students!

MEREDA is excited to announce that once again, MEREDA will be providing $20,000 in scholarships to students attending the Maine Community College System and the University of Southern Maine that are enrolled in the building trades and business programs. 

MEREDA strongly supports a strong education system. In fact, over the past 4 years, MEREDA is proud to have raised and donated over $47,000 in scholar­ships helping over 30 Maine students by making it a little easier for them to achieve their goal of obtaining a college credential. This year, those numbers will jump to $67,000 and 46! 

Many thanks to our generous sponsors Landry/French Construction, AAA Energy Service Co., and Mainebiz, as well as our bowling teams for supporting this worthwhile cause.  Without their involvement, these substantial donations would not be possible!   Check out photos from the event on our Facebook page!

Morning Menu Breakfast Event: “Darkness into Light: Cannabis and its impact on Commercial Real Estate in the Post-Prohibition Era.” – Bangor Edition

MEREDA takes this important event on the road to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Join us for breakfast on June 13 from 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM for a panel discussion and presentation on how this industry has evolved, where things stand today and what the future may hold. The panel will be moderated by Justin Lamontagne, a Partner at NAI The Dunham Group specializing in commercial industrial brokerage. It will feature presentations by Dan Walker of Preti Flaherty and Gretchen Jones of Eaton Peabody, two legal experts with extensive experience in representation of both cannabis landlords and end-users.

Morning Menu Breakfast Event: The State of Senior Living In Maine

Buffet Breakfast: 7:30-8:00 am Program: 8:00-9:00 am The nature in which we address the care and housing of our seniors has evolved in recent years.  Developers, architects, builders, and healthcareRead More

MEREDA’s 2017 Annual Real Estate Spring Conference is May 18th

This event will offer a big picture perspective of how development is good for our future, and the rationale around smart growth development.  MEREDA is pleased to welcome Jesse Kanson-Benanav – a Boston-area pioneer in the YIMBY movement who has been instrumental as a leader on the frontlines of this potential sea change in the conversation about development—for a discussion about its present status and implications for the future.  His perspective will be augmented by a panel of local professionals who will anchor this national trend in local context. 

Attendees can expect to gain insight into the near future of community conversations about development, learn how to get more people to think more globally about development, and what it means for the real estate industry more broadly.

Attendees will learn about some of the roadblocks and some of the successful strategies to navigate the land use and zoning regulations to successfully get to a “YIMBY”. Some of those strategies include understanding the interplay between a city’s comprehensive plan and zoning codes, and which land use tools are also legal implements for a successful project review. 

5th Anniversary ‘Strikes for Scholars’ Bowl-a-Thon Fundraising Event

MEREDA is proud to host its 5th Annual "Strikes for Scholars" Fundraising Event at Bayside Bowl in Portland on May 4, 2017.  "Strikes for Scholars" supports scholarships for Maine students pursuing studies in building trades, architecture, construction, engineering or a business program at a Maine Community College (MCCS), or the College of Science, Technology & Health at the University of Southern Maine.

MEREDA strongly supports a strong education system.  In fact, over the past 4 years, MEREDA is proud to have raised and donated over $47,000 in scholarships helping over 30 Maine students by making it a little easier for them to achieve their goal of obtaining a college credential. Last year alone, we raised enough funds to provide 16 $1500 sponsorships!

MEREDA’s Annual Spring Networking Social

Thinking Spring?  Think MEREDA on March 23!  At this time of year, who isn’t already thinking about Spring?  Why not make plans now to join us at Ri Ra Irish Pub & Restaurant for MEREDA’s Annual Spring Social!  

MEREDA’s networking events attract key players in Maine’s real estate industry offering excellent opportunities to interact with the experts.  Join MEREDA on Portland’s waterfront on March 23 from 5 – 7 pm for Hors d’ oeuvres, Spirits, and Great Conversation as we welcome Spring back to Maine!

Join MEREDA for a cocktail or two, and reconnect with colleagues and friends, both old and new! This “can’t miss” event sells out every year, so sign up early!

MEREDA Index shows Maine’s real estate industry reaches highest level in ten years, signifies “worker gap”

The second quarter of 2016 saw the Maine real estate industry reach the highest level in ten years, led by a 10% growth in the residential component” said Rick McCarthy, consultant with Eaton Peabody and board member with the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA). McCarthy made his remarks at MEREDA’s sold out conference in mid-January, while unveiling The MEREDA Index, the economic indicator that measures the health of the state’s real estate sector.

But, all told, The MEREDA Index, which covers the middle two quarters of 2016, came in slightly lower than recent editions, at 93. The highwater mark gains were not sustained throughout, with a 4% drop toward the end of the period," said economist Dr. Charles Colgan, of the University of Southern Maine, who compiled the report for MEREDA.