Peter Bass, Real Estate Developer for Marquis Lofts, Lafayette Street, Now Proposed to Developer 65 Munjoy Street.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,513)

Adams Apple, LLC has filed plans with the city’s planning office to develop the vacant lot at 65 Munjoy Street on the Hill. The lot is part of the former Adams Elementary School that was developed by Avesta Housing a few years ago.  This portion of the property was not part of that development project.

Plans call for eight (8) residential condominium units to be built on the site.  That includes 2  three bedroom units, 2 two bedroom units, and four one bedroom units.  There will be eight parking spaces; 6 of them on the ground floor level.

The soil underneath the proposed development is known to be highly contaminated soil – a highly expensive situation with which to deal.  To resolve this, the Portland Housing Development Corporation (PHDC), the development subsidiary of the Portland Housing Authority, has agreed to assist Adams Apple in its development of the property by becoming an interim owner of the property in order to become the grantee of a $200,000 Brownfields environmental remediation grant from the Greater Portland Council of Governments.  The PHDC will hold title to the property during the remediation phase and once the remediation is complete, will transfer ownership of the property to Adams Apple.

The two developers are Peter Bass of Random Orbit and Ethan Boxer-Macomber, of Anew Development.  They have joined talents by the formation of Adams Apple LLC for this proposed development.  Boxer-Macomber was formerly with Avesta Housing who developed the adjoining condominiums. Barbara Vestal is the real estate attorney for Adams Apple LLC.  Bass recently developed the Marquis Lofts at 33  Lafayette Street on the  Hill.

A date for the proposal to be heard before the plannning board has not been determined.

For more information on this please call Nell Donaldson at 207 – 874-8723 or email her at: hcd@portlandmaine.gov