Tyler Norod – BIDDEFORD GAZETTE

[Contributed Story]

A new 40-unit affordable housing community at 37 Barra Road marks Westbrook Development’s first project in Biddeford and the first phase of a broader housing partnership with the city

Westbrook Development Corporation (WDC), in partnership with the city of Biddeford, is proud to announce the groundbreaking of Thatcher Brook Apartments, a new 40-unit affordable housing community located at 37 Barra Road in Biddeford. The development will provide much-needed homes for local households and marks WDC’s first project in Biddeford.

Thatcher Brook Apartments will offer a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in a thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient building affordable to households earning between $37,000 and $75,000 a year. The development will also include community space, a playground, and an on-site property management office, creating a high-quality residential environment designed to support residents and families.

**A RENDERING** of a new housing project now being built on Barra Road in Biddeford. (*Courtesy Image)*

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The project is the first phase of a two-phase development on land donated by the City of Biddeford to WDC for the creation of affordable housing. It also represents an important example of how municipalities and mission-driven developers can work together to respond to Maine’s ongoing housing shortage.

Thatcher Brook Apartments emerged from a broader moment in Maine’s housing conversation. After a similar workforce housing proposal by WDC was rejected by Cumberland voters in 2024, the city of Biddeford reached out to reaffirm its commitment to being part of the solution to the state’s housing crisis. That outreach created the opportunity to adapt the original housing concept to the Barra Road site and move forward in a community prepared to support the development of much-needed affordable homes.

“With Thatcher Brook Apartments, Biddeford is demonstrating what local leadership looks like in the face of Maine’s housing crisis,” said Tyler Norod, WDC’s President. “This project will create quality, energy-efficient homes for households who need them, and it reflects the power of partnership, persistence, and a shared commitment to expanding housing opportunity. We are grateful to the City of Biddeford for its vision and collaboration, and proud to break ground on our first development in Biddeford.”

**CONSTRUCTION** is well under way on Barra Road in Biddeford *(Randy Seaver Photo*)

The project team includes Kaplan Thompson Architects as architect, Gorrill Palmer as civil engineer, and Allied Cook Construction of Scarborough as construction manager.

“Biddeford has made clear that addressing the housing shortage is essential to our city’s future,” said Mayor Liam LaFountain. “Thank you to WDC, the Biddeford City Council, Planning Board, City staff, and former Mayor Grohman for their work to make this project possible. Thatcher Brook Apartments adds well-designed, energy-efficient, and stable housing for Biddeford residents. We are proud to continue building momentum for additional housing at all income levels across Biddeford.”

Financing for Thatcher Brook Apartments reflects a strong public-private partnership and includes support from MaineHousing’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, donated land from the City of Biddeford, a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) contribution through the City of Biddeford, tax credit syndication through local non-profit Evernorth, and additional funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) and Maine Community Bank.

With Thatcher Brook Apartments,
Biddeford is demonstrating what local
leadership looks like in the face
of Maine’s housing crisis.”
— Tyler Norod, president, WDC

“Affordable housing developments require creativity, trust, and strong partnerships at every level,” said Beth Boutin Vice President of Community Investments at Evernorth. “Thatcher Brook Apartments is the result of exactly that kind of collaboration, and it will have a meaningful impact for Biddeford residents for years to come.”

Thatcher Brook Apartments is especially significant as the first of four affordable housing developments now in WDC’s pipeline in Biddeford alone. The next of those projects, Quebec Commons, will bring 45 units of much-needed affordable senior housing to the former MERC industrial site in Biddeford’s historic mill district, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.

Together, these projects reflect a growing partnership between WDC and the City of Biddeford and a shared long-term commitment to increasing the supply of affordable housing for families, seniors, and working households.

The groundbreaking ceremony will celebrate the collaboration of public officials, development partners, funding partners, and community stakeholders who have helped move the project from concept to construction.

ABOUT WESTBROOK DEVELOPMENT | Westbrook Development Corporation is a leading non-profit affordable housing developer that expands access to stable, high-quality homes and strengthens communities across Southern Maine. Thatcher Brook Apartments marks WDC’s first project in Biddeford and the beginning of a new four-building pipeline of affordable housing developments in the city. Once complete these develops will represent 166 much needed new affordable apartments for local residents.

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READERS SAY . . .

JAKE HAWKINS

Dear Biddeford Gazette, Thanks for the uplifting story about the Thatcher Brook housing complex. The design of this housing development is thought out carefully in terms of building community and addressing the housing crisis. On a few trips to Sweden we were happy to see that much thought was given to housing their citizens with their everyday needs in mind. The apartment we stayed in was part of a complex that also housed a daycare center so parents could drop off their kids on the way to work as well as a playground and park surrounded by the building. It is refreshing to see that Biddeford is looking out for its citizens by building this housing for the future.

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Several members of the Biddeford City Council expressed significant and pointed concerns during Tuesday’s council meeting about a proposed affordable housing project near the corner of Lincoln and Pearl streets.

Westbrook Development Corp. is hoping to construct approximately 90 units of affordable housing for residents over the age of 55. The developers say the monthly rent would range between $1,100 and $1,300, including all utilities.

Mayor Marty Grohman described the two-phase project as a “large and complex” deal that will finally culminate the end of an era when that site was the home of the MERC waste incinerator, which was closed in 2012.

Another proposed development project that would offer market-rate apartments, retail and other commercial spaces is being proposed in the same area. The two projects would essentially wrap around the Pearl Street parking garage.

Tyler Norod of Westbrook Development Corporation addresses the Biddeford City Council Tuesday about his company’s hopes to build an affordable housing complex adjacent to the city’s Pearl Street parking garage. (Seaver photo)

The developer is proposing to give the city roughly $680,000 to secure needed parking spaces in the parking garage and is required to make an $840,000 contribution to help fund sewer upgrades throughout the city,

George Gervais, the city’s economic development director, told the council that the project would bring more than $30 million in direct and indirect benefits to the city, including a $200,000 contribution to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust fund.

Despite those benefits, several councilors said they are not yet ready to pull the trigger.

Because the city currently owns the 1.6-acre parcel, councilors expressed concerns about parking, the project’s timing and what might happen if the project falls through.

Tyler Norod of Westbrook Development told the council that his company is facing a tight timeline because they are hoping to secure project funding from the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) in order to make the project viable.

“I hate to have a gun held to my head,” said Councilor Marc Lessard. “That type of approach never leaves us in a good position.”

Though Lessard said he supports the need for more affordable housing, he says taxpayers expected the city to replace the former MERC site with commercial development that would create jobs and tax revenue.

Lessard said the city “cannot afford any more credit enhancement agreements. “We need to be more focused on generating more money on the tax rolls to ease pressure on taxpayers,” he said.

Councilor Norman Belanger, however, said the development landscape has changed significantly since MERC was closed 13 years ago.

“This project would be a tremendous win
for the city. There’s so much benefit if
this passes, and so much to lose if it fails.”
— George Gervais, economic development director

“We had a plan and a vision for that space,” Belanger said. “But then COVID hit, and the world as we know it changed.”

Belanger expressed frustration about a mixed message coming from the city council, saying he feels bad for city staff who put a lot of time and effort in bringing projects forward.

“This council is acting in a schizophrenic manner,” Belanger said. “We say we want affordable housing here, but not there. We’re sending a mixed message.”

Councilor Doris Ortiz said she supports the development of more affordable housing, but also expressed some concerns about the proposal. “The parking garage has been a thorn in the city’s side for a very long time,” she said. “Overall, I think it’s a good project, but there is a lot to work through. It’s not an easy lift for us.”

Citing the need for more information, the council voted 8-1 to table the proposal until the next council meeting on June 17.

The site where Westbrook Development Corp. wants to build 90 units of affordable housing for residents over the age of 55. *(Seaver photo)*

Following the meeting, Norod said he appreciated the council’s diligence and its commitment to develop more affordable housing.

“We feel as if we are partners with the city,” Norod said. “It’s clear that the council really wants more affordable housing. We have some homework to do before the next meeting, but we are happy to do it.”

For his part, Gervais said he was feeling a bit disappointed about the delay, pointing out that he and other city staffers have been working on this project for more than a year. He also said he has repeatedly offered to meet with individual councilors to answer any questions about the proposal.

“This project would be a tremendous win for the city,” Gervais said. “There’s so much benefit if this passes. and so much to lose if it fails.”

RELATED: Click here to view or download the project’s executive summary:

WDC Lincoln_Pearl Development Agreement Brief Download

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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