Housing project geared toward disabled in works (Aug. 8, 2008)
By Nate Jones
Staff Writer
Mary Chris Bulger, new owner the three-story building at 20 E Street in South Portland’s Mill Creek neighborhood knows there are a lot of rumors going around about the future of the space, and it’s probably not the first time. She said the 114-year-old building has been a ceramic and a furniture store, restaurant, dance hall and a lodge for the Royal Order of the Moose.
“It’s a stable, beautiful building,” she said.
Speculation regarding the future of 20 E Street, located on the water side just off Legion Square, began when the former owner gutted the building – filling 15 60-foot long dumpsters with debris, including hundreds of ceramic molds – and entertained the possibility of converting the first floor to retail space. Bulger said the former owner also put up several interior walls to accommodate a retail vendor.
“I said ‘You know you’re going to sell me the place, why did you put that wall there?’” she said.
Now, Bulger, who purchased the building – currently valued at $212,000 – with the help of another family in March in what she describes as a “daring move,” plans to designate the structure as housing for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“The rumor is we’re going looking to put 40 to 50 people in there,” she laughed.
The truth: Bulger has partnered with Specialized Housing Inc. out of Brookline, Mass. to offer the building to eight tenants who will share a common kitchen, dining and living spaces and two live-in staff members. If successful, it will be the first housing project of its type in the state, she said.
“These are working men and women from their early 20s to mid-30s,” Bulger said. “They do things in their lives just like the rest of us.”
Bulger said since she held an informational meeting about the project last year she has already received applications for the housing, which, much like a condominium complex, tenants must purchase individually.
“They can have a sense of ownership,” Bulger said. “They will decide how the building is run, because they own it.”
Early estimates put the cost of residency anywhere between $75,000 and $125,000 per unit – and Bulger said she hopes to keep the total renovation cost less than $1 million.
“I’m not a developer and I’m not doing it for profit. It’s totally an act of love,” said Bulger, whose 20-year-old daughter Anna will reside in the building. “You envision your child living in a place you want to live; it’s for my own peace of mind.”
Bulger said up to six residents had already been selected to live in the building, including Ellen Atkinson, who works at Unum two days a week and spends the rest of her time at Spindleworks Artist Studio in Brunswick, making jewelry, knitting and weaving crafts that are eventually sold.
“She tried living in a condo, but was desperately lonely,” Ellen Atkinson’s mother, Karen Atkinson, said. “It’s a dream come true.”
Atkinson, who currently lives with her parents in Portland, said she was excited about living next door to her new friend, Anna. Bulger said the pair has already begun frequenting the Mill Creek area in anticipation of moving in, possibly by spring next year.
“They can walk to the store, get errands done and be next to the water,” Bulger said. “There’s no better place in the city.”
South Portland City Planner Tex Hauser said the planning department recommended Bulger propose to add the project to the “Special Exception Use” portion of the Village Residential Zone – which includes the Mill Creek area – as currently the zoning ordinance would not allow 10 residents on such a small lot.
“Group homes are allowed, and in a way this is kind of like that,” he said. “But group homes are governed by federal law. This goes a little bit beyond.”
South Portland Code Enforcement Officer Patricia Doucette said adding a “housing for people with disabilities” clause to the ordinance could be a quicker and easier process than creating a conditional zone for the project, although Hauser said even after the ordinance is amended, the project may still be subject to subdivision site plan review by the planning board, as each tenant will own his or her portion of the property.
“These guys go through a lot,” Hauser said.
Staff Writer
Mary Chris Bulger, new owner the three-story building at 20 E Street in South Portland’s Mill Creek neighborhood knows there are a lot of rumors going around about the future of the space, and it’s probably not the first time. She said the 114-year-old building has been a ceramic and a furniture store, restaurant, dance hall and a lodge for the Royal Order of the Moose.
“It’s a stable, beautiful building,” she said.
Speculation regarding the future of 20 E Street, located on the water side just off Legion Square, began when the former owner gutted the building – filling 15 60-foot long dumpsters with debris, including hundreds of ceramic molds – and entertained the possibility of converting the first floor to retail space. Bulger said the former owner also put up several interior walls to accommodate a retail vendor.
“I said ‘You know you’re going to sell me the place, why did you put that wall there?’” she said.
Now, Bulger, who purchased the building – currently valued at $212,000 – with the help of another family in March in what she describes as a “daring move,” plans to designate the structure as housing for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“The rumor is we’re going looking to put 40 to 50 people in there,” she laughed.
The truth: Bulger has partnered with Specialized Housing Inc. out of Brookline, Mass. to offer the building to eight tenants who will share a common kitchen, dining and living spaces and two live-in staff members. If successful, it will be the first housing project of its type in the state, she said.
“These are working men and women from their early 20s to mid-30s,” Bulger said. “They do things in their lives just like the rest of us.”
Bulger said since she held an informational meeting about the project last year she has already received applications for the housing, which, much like a condominium complex, tenants must purchase individually.
“They can have a sense of ownership,” Bulger said. “They will decide how the building is run, because they own it.”
Early estimates put the cost of residency anywhere between $75,000 and $125,000 per unit – and Bulger said she hopes to keep the total renovation cost less than $1 million.
“I’m not a developer and I’m not doing it for profit. It’s totally an act of love,” said Bulger, whose 20-year-old daughter Anna will reside in the building. “You envision your child living in a place you want to live; it’s for my own peace of mind.”
Bulger said up to six residents had already been selected to live in the building, including Ellen Atkinson, who works at Unum two days a week and spends the rest of her time at Spindleworks Artist Studio in Brunswick, making jewelry, knitting and weaving crafts that are eventually sold.
“She tried living in a condo, but was desperately lonely,” Ellen Atkinson’s mother, Karen Atkinson, said. “It’s a dream come true.”
Atkinson, who currently lives with her parents in Portland, said she was excited about living next door to her new friend, Anna. Bulger said the pair has already begun frequenting the Mill Creek area in anticipation of moving in, possibly by spring next year.
“They can walk to the store, get errands done and be next to the water,” Bulger said. “There’s no better place in the city.”
South Portland City Planner Tex Hauser said the planning department recommended Bulger propose to add the project to the “Special Exception Use” portion of the Village Residential Zone – which includes the Mill Creek area – as currently the zoning ordinance would not allow 10 residents on such a small lot.
“Group homes are allowed, and in a way this is kind of like that,” he said. “But group homes are governed by federal law. This goes a little bit beyond.”
South Portland Code Enforcement Officer Patricia Doucette said adding a “housing for people with disabilities” clause to the ordinance could be a quicker and easier process than creating a conditional zone for the project, although Hauser said even after the ordinance is amended, the project may still be subject to subdivision site plan review by the planning board, as each tenant will own his or her portion of the property.
“These guys go through a lot,” Hauser said.
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