Council approves TIF for 72‑unit Soleil affordable housing project in downtown Lewiston

The council voted 6–1 to authorize a tax-increment financing credit enhancement to bridge a roughly $1.2 million funding gap for the Soleil multifamily housing project, a 72‑unit downtown development led by Lewiston Housing Authority. Penn Lindsay, director of development for the housing authority, said the project combines nearly $12 million in low‑income housing tax‑credit equity, about $9 million in state tax credits and a $400,000 MaineHousing subsidy to reach a $31 million total budget.

Lindsay said the building will deliver primarily one‑bedroom units (60 one-bed, 12 two-bed) with three ground‑floor commercial spaces; staff stressed the project targets the long waiting lists for one‑ and two‑bedroom subsidized homes (public-housing waiting lists cited at more than 1,600 and Housing Choice Voucher lists near 1,500). Councilors asked about senior mix and economic benefits; supporters highlighted construction‑period job and wage estimates extrapolated from recent local projects. The motion to adopt the order authorizing the administrator to execute the credit enhancement passed 6–1.