CUMBERLAND — One phase of the Village Green Revitalization Master Plan is complete, while another is well underway and the third could come to fruition next year.

The Bateman Partners project, based in the center of town, includes single-family homes, senior housing, townhouses and a mixed-use facility.

Conversion of the former Drowne Road School to senior housing – technically Phase 3 – is finished.

“We’re hoping to be 100 percent occupied by the end of next month,” Nathan Bateman, vice president of Portland-based Bateman Partners, said last week. “We’ve got about 15 … retirees living there right now,” with another 20 applications being processed.

The 17,600-square-foot building has 38 rental apartments.

“That project came out great,” Bateman said. “… Great collaboration with the town and Maine State Housing Authority.”

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The quick “rent-up” clearly shows a need for senior housing in Cumberland, he said, noting that the majority of occupants are existing town residents. Bateman pointed out that the town has managed and owned 30 units of senior housing, for which there has been a waiting list of more than 100 people.

Phase 1 will have 58 units of single-family housing. The majority of the infrastructure has been built, with construction of a road to begin next spring. Twenty-one homes are either complete or under construction, 11 are occupied, with almost all the rest to be filled by next month.

“Sales have been tremendous,” Bateman said. “… We have four builders that we use that actually come in and buy lots from us and put build packages together for end users, and those four builders all have been extremely busy. We actually haven’t been able to keep up with demand for housing. … We should catch up this winter.”

Bateman anticipates another eight foundations to go in this winter.

In Phase 2, still in the concept stages, the Public Works and school bus facilities would be moved and replaced by single-family, townhouse-like homes, along with a mixed-use building that would contain residential rentals and commercial space.

Bateman said that phase could begin next spring, and that his company’s goal for 100 percent build-out for all three phases is three or four years from now, depending on how quickly Cumberland moves with Phase 2.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

Sidebar Elements


One phase of the Village Green Revitalization Master Plan in Cumberland – conversion of the former Drowne Road School to senior housing – is complete. The school was renovated and expanded with a new three-story wing to hold 38 rental apartments.


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