Portland Housing's Solterra Named Notable Project of 2020

PORTLAND, Maine – At its annual Spring Conference held virtually on Thursday, May 20, 2021, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) formally recognized the Portland Housing Authority’s Solterra as one of the Notable Projects of 2020 in the state of Maine.

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) is the state’s leading organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers and is the only voice for the real estate development industry in Maine. MEREDA’s mission is to promote fair and responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout Maine. Each spring, MEREDA recognizes the most significant real estate development projects from the past year, based on rigorous criteria including environmental sustainability, demonstrated overcoming of development challenges, project uniqueness, social and economic impact, energy efficiency, and overall project significance.

Aptly named for the nearby urban gardens, the building’s rooftop solar installation and the Italian community that was once there, Solterra (“sun and earth” in Italian) at 58 Boyd Street in East Bayside is a mixed-income, six-story building featuring 23 efficiency, ten (10) one-bedroom, thirteen (13) two-bedroom and nine (9) three-bedroom apartments as well as a community space (The Harvest Room) adjacent to the Boyd Street Urban Gardens.

Solterra was designed to accommodate the local community’s social, physical, and environmental needs, with accessibility, quality of life, durability, and environmental sustainability as keystones to the design process. The project was one of only two in Maine to receive a grant from Efficiency Maine’s Renewable Energy Community Demonstration Projects in Affordable Housing. The 50-Kilowatt system allows enough savings to cover all common area electricity and free WiFi for residents to remotely access work, educational resources, and a variety of support services.

Solterra not only provides safe, affordable housing, but also provides an indoor environment that is healthy for its residents. The building is designed with healthy building materials that have low-VOC or no-VOC (harmful chemicals). There is abundant continuous fresh air to each unit that is pre-heated with a Heat Recovery Ventilation system to save energy. These features, coupled with a robust services program, including a telehealth program through Greater Portland Health, demonstrate the priority placed on resident health and wellness.

“The completion of Solterra during the COVID-19 pandemic is a true testament to the hard work and professionalism of all involved,” said Cheryl Sessions, executive director of the Portland Housing Authority. “Solterra has provided hope for many families who are seeking affordable rental housing in the City of Portland, and it demonstrates the city’s commitment to build forward-thinking, environmentally sustainable, energy efficient, accessible and beautiful affordable housing.”

Along with Avesta Housing, the Portland Housing Authority would also like to recognize all of the partners involved in this project, including Construction Manager Wright-Ryan Construction; the design team, which included CWS Architects, Carroll Associates Landscape Architects, Bennett Engineering, Ransom Consulting, Becker Structural, Sparhawk Group Commissioning, S.W. Cole Engineering, Owen Haskell Surveyors, Credere Associates Environmental Engineering; and owner representative Development Services of New England.

About Portland Housing Authority
Established in 1943, the Portland Housing Authority and its affiliated corporations provide long-term, affordable fair rental housing and related assistance to more than 3,000 low-income families, seniors and disabled individuals. It does this primarily through federally funded and regulated programs, including the Foster Youth to Independence Program (FYI) and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. In collaboration with community partners and fellow housing authorities like South Portland and Westbrook, PHA strives to improve quality of life, build community, enhance safety and promote personal success for the people it serves and the neighborhoods in which they reside. For more information, visit www.porthouse.org.