Sen. Cameron Reny celebrates new affordable housing complex in Newcastle, benefits of Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program

NEWCASTLE — On Tuesday, July 29, Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new 16-unit affordable apartment complex in Newcastle. The two-building complex, which is located walking distance from the downtowns of both Newcastle and Damariscotta, was funded in part by the Maine Legislature’s 2023 investment in the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program. The program supports efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing in Maine’s rural communities.

“All Maine people deserve access to safe and affordable housing close to where they live, work, and shop,” said. Sen. Reny. “These new rental units in Newcastle check all three boxes, increasing access to affordable housing a short walk from two of our coastal downtowns where it is becoming harder and harder to find a place to live. I appreciate the collaborative efforts of the town and stakeholders at the county and state level that helped complete this project. 16 Mills Road demonstrates the impact that the investments the Legislature makes can have on helping to ease our state’s housing crisis.”

Sen. Reny has worked hard to preserve and promote affordable housing this legislative session. She supported bills (including LD 1829) to reduce red tape that has slowed down housing construction and to fund affordable housing development through an increase in the real estate transfer tax for homes worth over $1 million. Sen. Reny also sponsored two bills (LD 554 and LD 1016) to promote affordability in mobile home communities by incentivizing sales to residents instead of out-of-state private equity firms. 

The new affordable complex is located at 16 Mills Road in Newcastle and was developed by Rob Nelson, who is a Newcastle resident. The buildings were manufactured by KBS homes in South Paris before modular assembly on-site. They feature Maine-made wood-fiber insulation manufactured by Timber HP in Madison.

Sen. Reny represents Maine Senate District 13, which includes most of Lincoln County and the towns of Washington and Windsor.

From left: Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle; Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol; Gov. Janet Mills; developer Rob Nelson (behind Gov. Mills); Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport; Lincoln County District 3 Commissioner David Levesque; Newcastle Select Board Chair Tor Glendinning celebrate following the ribbon cutting (Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Janet T. Mills)

Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, left, watches as Gov. Janet Mills cuts the ribbon to open the new affordable housing complex at 16 Mills Road in Newcastle. Also pictured, from left: Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle; Hannah Pingree, former director of the Governor’s Office of Policy, Innovation and the Future (GOPIF); Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport; Lincoln County District 3 Commissioner David Levesque; Newcastle Select Board Chair Tor Glendinning; developer Rob Nelson

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