Lewiston among top 5 finalists for $30 million federal grant

A plan to redevelop public housing for the Tree Streets neighborhood in downtown Lewiston includes a 66-unit, mixed-use development on a stretch of Pine Street. Courtesy image

LEWISTON — The city was chosen as one of five finalists for a federal Choice Neighborhoods implementation grant worth up to $30 million.

If awarded, the funds would be used toward Lewiston’s “transformation plan,” a comprehensive effort to redevelop a significant swath of public housing in the downtown Tree Streets neighborhood. The proposal includes a 66-unit, mixed-use development on Pine Street, along Kennedy Park, and a 64-unit, family-oriented redevelopment along Pine and Bartlett streets.

The announcement Monday came from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, ranking member of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee.

A news release said the city’s joint application with the Lewiston Housing Authority will be considered among applications from the cities of Detroit, Michigan, Cleveland, Ohio, Camden, New Jersey, and Fort Myers, Florida.

“It is very encouraging that Lewiston’s comprehensive plan to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Mainers living in the Tree Streets neighborhood has made it to the final round of consideration,” Collins said.

According to the release, Collins sent a letter in support of Lewiston’s grant application earlier this year.

An announcement from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development states the finalists were selected from a pool of 20 applicants, and that HUD anticipates announcing awards in late April or May.

Lincoln Jeffers, director of economic and community development, said the city is “absolutely thrilled to be named a finalist,” especially given Lewiston’s size. He said Lewiston’s population is half that of Camden, N.J., the next smallest finalist.

Lewiston’s population was estimated at 36,225 as of July 1, 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

A map included in the 250-page transformation plan shows the proposed redevelopment sites, in orange, one along Pine Street and another block of housing on Pine and Bartlett streets. Submitted image

“We’re so appreciative of Sen. Collins’ work, all the community partners and the many, many, residents,” he said.

Jeffers said that as of late 2020, HUD communications stated $182 million was anticipated to be appropriated to the program, with $87.5 million slated to go to applications where a public housing authority was a lead or co-applicant. Four of the five finalists name a housing authority as a co-applicant.

The news release states Lewiston’s Tree Streets neighborhood has the highest concentration of childhood lead poisoning and families in poverty in Maine, and that the grant would transform the neighborhood “into a lead-free, economically diverse, and welcoming community.”

The plan would redevelop and construct 185 mixed-income units on three sites now owned by the Lewiston Housing Authority. The plan would also use funding to support residents of the neighborhood with additional workforce, education and health care resources.

In the coming weeks, a HUD team will hold virtual site visits to meet with the five finalists and their partners “to get a clear understanding of their individual transformation plans.”

HUD said site visits are part of the Choice Neighborhoods application review process “to determine which of the finalists are most competitive.”

In 2018, the city was awarded an initial $1.3 million planning grant, which resulted in a community-driven process to draft the transformation plan. Lewiston was among only three cities in the country to be awarded the planning grant, along with Los Angeles and Philadelphia, making Lewiston the first city of its size to take part.

The grant process for fiscal year 2020 was initially delayed due to COVID-19.