Staff Writer
HOULTON — The town of Houlton was honored for “community service in economic development” by Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Wiscasset-based developer planning construction of a 28-unit senior housing project downtown. At their 30th anniversary annual meeting, CEI presented three excellence awards; Houlton was chosen for one — the “Sustaining Community Award” in recognition of their “planning and collaboration” on the senior citizen housing project.
“Houlton’s solution-focused attitude was a model for how to involve and respect key stakeholders,” said John Egan, CEI’s housing developer. “Finding and cultivating a local partnership like this defines and informs our work in community development.”
Town Manager Doug Hazlett called the award “quite a compliment,” adding that the town was happy to work with CEI on a project that “is very good for downtown.”
Construction of the senior citizen apartments, at the rear of the Temple Theater parking, is still on track for a groundbreaking this summer. The project gained unanimous approval from Houlton’s planning and zoning boards in October 2007 when CEI presented plans for the $2.5 million building project. Located in Market Square, the three-story apartment building is expected to be ready for occupants in the spring of 2009.
