FARMINGTON — Construction to upgrade about 800 feet of water and sewer lines on the property of the housing complex known as 82 High Street began Monday as E.L. Vining & Son started digging.

Meanwhile, the 82 High Street board of directors continued their work on plans to replace 13 apartments in three buildings.

“We are still working on a grant-loan package and expect to submit it in September,” Janet Smith, board chairman, said.

Townspeople voted last year for the town to oversee a $360,000 Community Development Block Grant application and implementation of the water/sewer line work in the low- and moderate-income housing complex located on Sawtelle Lane.

A first phase, rehabilitation of 17 mobile homes, was completed in 2012 with the help of CDBG funds. The second phase included plans for new water, sewer and gas lines.

The project, planned by Dirigo Engineering, involves only water and sewer lines and repairing the road, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser said Monday. Gas delivery to the local area did not develop.

After design and engineering work was completed over the winter, construction work was put out to bid, he said. The town received four bids and awarded the work to the Farmington contractor.

While construction costs tally up to $312,077, the total cost may come closer to $400,000. As planned, the amount will be augmented by loans taken by the 82 High Street board and volunteer work.

The work is expected to be completed by fall.

Along with repairing the road, a curved entrance is planned, Kaiser said.

The driveway change is intended to help slow down drivers and provide a little privacy for the complex, Smith said. 

Potential plans include replacing the three apartment buildings with modular buildings. Removal of the office and a storage unit would allow buildings to be placed on both sides, closer to High Street, and block some of the view up the street. This would also create a larger play area and meeting space within the complex, she said.

The board has spent a lot of time planning, looking at modular units and examining finance options to devise a plan that will work well for tenants and keep rents affordable, she said. 

The mobile home community and rental housing complex was created 26 years ago by the town of Farmington, town residents, eight area churches and Western Maine Community Action.

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