A surge in construction and public-private partnerships (like this project across from Central Park) has resulted in hundreds of new living units.
Photo: ReinCorp
By Brian Boisvert
Sanford is in the midst of an historic housing boom propelled by aggressive city policies and critical public-private partnerships, officials announced at the City Council’s fourth annual Housing Workshop on September 30. From tackling derelict properties to initiating modern “Housing First” strategies, the city’s comprehensive approach has resulted in hundreds of new units, dramatically exceeding long-term growth projections.
City Manager Steve Buck opened the forum, reminding attendees that “housing is both a noun and a verb”— a physical structure and the act of getting and keeping people housed. He detailed a decade-plus timeline of strategic action rooted in 2012, when officials first recognized that a third of the city’s rental stock was aged, built mostly pre-1908, and undervalued.
The city’s response was a series of pivotal milestones:
- 2016: The first use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as an economic tool to incentivize housing projects like Marlin Hall, establishing a crucial funding template.
- 2017: The establishment of the Land Bank to address dangerous and hazardous buildings—an initiative that has since cleaned up 95 properties.
- 2019–2020 (COVID): The city formalized a Homeless Task Force, strengthening cooperation between the police, Sanford Housing Authority, and numerous service providers, which proved vital in coordinating emergency housing during the pandemic.
- 2023: The city quickly adapted to new state legislation (LD 2003) promoting greater housing density, building on its existing progressive codes like accessory dwelling unit allowances.
- 2024–25: A major encampment was successfully closed, resulting in some individuals being permanently housed, entering treatment, or going to a shelter. The city also shifted its focus to prevention with five new strategies aimed at individuals at risk of being unhoused.
Jamie Cole, Director of Codes and Planning, reported that between occupancy permits issued, building permits under construction, and projects approved at the planning board, Sanford has nearly 600 new units of housing in the works. “That is a lot of housing for a city like Sanford in one year,” Cole stated, citing projects that will “force walkability” and bring new life to the downtown area, including a major mill conversion in Springvale and new large apartment buildings.
A powerful case study for partnerships was presented by Rob Reinken, President of ReinCorp. His firm’s workforce housing Central Park Residences project faced difficult economic headwinds. “The current economic environment was just so brutal”, Reinken explained, citing rising interest rates, tariffs, and COVID-era costs. He credited a crucial partnership with the city’s TIF program for making the development possible, stating that TIF “gave us the edge” to secure highly competitive rural rental housing program funds from Maine State Housing. The project, which includes super energy-efficient units with keyless entry and solar, is a direct result of public incentives closing the viability gap.
Michelle LaBree, Assistant City Manager, explained how the Land Bank efforts are actively reclaiming and regenerating city property. She detailed the process from code violation to abatement, citing the recent demolition of a derelict structure that has already been sold for future single- or multi-unit development. The Land Bank is also partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build four single-family homes on Beaver Hill Road, with five more planned on Island Avenue, increasing homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families.
Jen Ouellette, Deputy Director of the Sanford Housing Authority, highlighted a new endeavor: Home for Good. This 30-unit project will be the area’s first evidence-based Housing First model. This approach prioritizes giving chronically homeless individuals immediate stable housing without requiring sobriety or treatment compliance, which then makes them more likely to pursue long-term help for other issues. Sanford Housing will partner with Avesta Housing and York County Community Action (YCCAC) to provide 24-hour, on-site services, a model proven to reduce high-cost utilization like emergency room visits. This facility, planned for Heritage Crossing, coincides with the construction of the York County Recovery Center, which will include the county’s first detox beds in over 35 years.
Carter Friend, CEO of YCCAC, provided critical context on the scale of need, showing that 50% of Sanford households do not earn enough income to meet a basic survival budget (housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare). These residents rely on the affordable housing being built, as well as crucial support services his agency provides, including heating and financial assistance, public transportation through the Sanford Transit bus route and The Wave door-to-work service, and affordable primary and behavioral services at Nasson Healthcare.
Mr. Buck closed by providing data on the city’s TIF usage and delivered the workshop’s most striking takeaway: in the last five years, Sanford has added a total of 802 new living units, exceeding the 20-year projection for ownership and rental housing that consulting firm RKG set for the city’s expected economic growth.
Officials concluded that Sanford’s growth is being driven not only by new local jobs, but also by its continued status as an affordable, high-quality residential community for those working in the defense industries and other major employers in the surrounding region.
Throughout the workshop, Sanford’s leaders affirmed their commitment to this comprehensive, partnership-driven model, ensuring that the city continues to build on its momentum to provide quality housing for all residents.
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