PDC approves Brownfields subgrant for Woodbury senior housing at 186 Woodford Street

Kirsten, chair of the Portland Development Corporation, said the PDC voted at its March meeting to approve a Brownfields subgrant to Community Housing of Maine to support remediation at 186 Woodford Street, a site for the proposed Woodbury senior affordable housing project.

Staff presented the request as part of packet materials and Nancy, PDC staff, told the board CHAM’s cleanup costs exceeded available funds in the PDC’s revolving loan fund and that the city had applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week for additional remediation funding. "We have applied to the EPA just this week for more remediation funding," Nancy said. She added that those funds, if awarded, would not arrive until the fall.

Brian Kilgallen of Community Housing of Maine described the project and the contamination encountered on site: the Woodbury will be four stories with 51 senior-affordable units to be sited adjacent to the parish house of Woodford Congregational Church. "We found the presence of urban fill in the site," Kilgallen said, and the requested funds would help pay tipping fees and excavation costs.

Board members asked whether CHAM could reapply or be reimbursed if EPA funds arrive later. Nancy and Kilgallen said CHAM would carry contingency or absorb shortfalls now and could return to request additional PDC funds if eligible after an EPA award. David McLaughlin reviewed CHAM’s financials for the board and said he was confident in the organization’s capacity to complete the project.

Kirsten moved to approve the subgrant; after a roll-call vote the motion passed. The chair’s motion, as read during the vote, referred to $250,000; staff materials in the packet referenced a $215,000 subgrant request. Jonathan Berg was recorded as abstaining from the votes. The PDC did not specify additional conditions on the subgrant at the meeting.

Next steps: CHAM will proceed with remediation planning while awaiting potential EPA funds; staff said CHAM would return for additional PDC assistance if the EPA grant is awarded and CHAM is eligible to receive more subgrant funding.