It's definitely not as straightforward as simply not building enough houses. That quote from the article is dumb, they may as well say "failure of the past to predict increased demand on housing in the future has caused a shortage of housing in the present". A pointless observation...

Not to say there doesn't seem to be an issue brewing. Maine (and much of the US) has been pushing unsustainable growth since the late 40s, and the downsides of that is becoming more apparent.

Development in Maine has trended towards sprawl. A few relatively dense population centers surrounded by networks of suburban sprawl. Portland, Brunswick/Bath, Lewiston/Auburn, Augusta, Bangor...

In addition to increased demand from people moving to Maine from out of state, demographic shifts within the state are placing pressure on the denser parts of Maine. People who 30 years ago built 30+ minutes out of town using gov loan programs and cheaper land, are now realizing they can't afford the upkeep and distance from services as they age. So they sell or refi and buy something in the dense part of town. Problem is even younger folk on Maine wages can't afford to live 30+ minutes from town with rising prices, not to mention deferred maintenance on the homes.

Revision was like 3x higher than 2 other quotes we got.

You don't have to zone the entire town that way, just a couple of acres in each town. The people who wait on you in restaurants, work in the big box stores, take care of your elderly, etc. can't afford to buy a single family on a big lot. Rents are also equally unaffordable.

Neither do will the kids of those who do. Most young people can't afford to buy a single family costing $328,000, (which is the median price of a 1 family in Maine). Most young people don't have the requisite 10% for a down payment or enough income to qualify for the payments.

We need to make it possible for builders to build more multifamily homes all over Maine to provide affordable first time homes for buyers and stable rents.

Not always topographically possible, but I get where you're coming from. The main issue in rushing to develop is that developers don't consider the environmental effects of what they're doing. Hence, Brunswick's current moratorium on development.

Many people who would like to farm are locked out because of rising land costs and development. If we want to continue to eat, we need to work on regionalizing food supplies. This is part of the discussion around the next farm bill.

You absolutely can farm on three acres.

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Well, I won't argue that point. My bet is that it'll never be used as a farm. Since we're in a rental housing crisis, I'm thinking about the number of two family homes that could be built on those 3 acres.

In MA, there are cities and towns where you can build a two family on 10000 sf or maybe less. There should be at least one zone in every city and town in Maine with similar zoning. If Mainers wanted to retain the bucolic look of Maine, they could zone the rest of the city or town the way it's always been. Just think of what would happen if every town within an hour's drive of Portland had two acres of it's land zoned for 2 family homes on 10,000 sf lot? You'd have an affordable owner occupied home AND an apartment to help that homeowner pay the mortgage.

Because people who work here need a place to live.

Another happy Maine Solar Solutions customer. Also try Sundog. Never used them but the owner is a standup guy.

> if a person lives according to what they earn thru their own hard work, then they've earned the right to live as they wish

Found the libertarian.

You genuinely have no idea what you're talking about. And why would you? Being 2,000 miles away from here...

Maine has been underbuilding for a long time. We were short thousands of units already in 2019. Now of course it's much worse in the remote work/airbnb world we live in. And no, Portland was not that affordable before Covid. While it looks like the population hasn't been growing fast, what your little analysis doesn't include is that's because many people, particularly smart young people, simply leave the state for better opportunities. If there were jobs and reasonably priced homes here, they might stay. Not to mention people delaying having children because of the cost of living, which keeps the population low.

Even now, with a tremendous amount of demand for housing, there is very little construction taking place. If you were actually from here you could drive around and see for yourself. Portland is building some units; great. But pretty much every other town kills every project in sight for no reason at all. Let me know if you want me to send you the articles, there are dozens.

Not wrong.

>But this is exactly what those people want.

"those people" sounds childish.

Also, if folks work for their wealth (being a 401k millionaire isnt what you think it is), why are they not allowed to live as they wish? Or do you want them to have fewer rights than you do? Frankly, if a person lives according to what they earn thru their own hard work, then they've earned the right to live as they wish.

>If it's good soil (which we don't have a lot of up here) then it should be protected.

No farms, no food.

>you should be able to build 4-5 two family homes on an acre lot.

Absurd. Why do you want any town in ME to turn into Brooklyn dense?

If you build it, they will move north from Boston and NYC.

I’ll have to check. Ty!

Thank you for the advice! I needed that

Thank you a ton!!

I think you’d be surprised how inexpensive land is in Burlington and other remote Penobscot county areas

MGH and BWH may be better - and much more costly - but I doubt NW or NEB are really better than what is at MMC in Portland.

Affordable housing developments are the answer, or at least a large part of it IMHO. Maine actually passed a state credit recently to help sprun further development of these projects. They're typically beautiful new buildings or rehabbed old historical ones that are located centrally and required to be affordable for 15-30 years+. They often house dozens of families in a small footprint.

Unfortunately, often nobody wants them in their neighborhoods.

Spaulding, if you can get in.

Togus is one of the better facilities in the VA system. Low bar to some but you should at least consult with them.

The best way to bring down rent prices is to build more housing

Exactly!

There was an effort two years ago to drain a piece of wetlands near my place, put in housing. I was definitely willing to hear them out when I pictured an apartment building or even a mobile park... really anything, y'know, useful.

Instead the plan was summer cottages for tourists.

I didn't even have to get involved, another furious neighbor drove a stake through the heart of that bullshit.