The Ramada Hotel in Lewiston is being considered for more senior housing, including 63 units and extensive renovations. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Two projects proposed by the Lewiston Housing Authority would add another 107 units of affordable senior housing to the city.

The Planning Board will review Lewiston Housing proposals Monday to convert the Ramada Hotel on Pleasant Street into 63 units of affordable senior housing, as well as build a 44-unit second phase of senior housing on the site of the former Martel School.

The need for more senior housing has been long discussed by city officials, and while new units have been approved recently, none have been constructed so far. The proposals would turn the hotel and conference center into a senior living facility, while doubling the size of the authority’s project at the former Martel School.

According to Lewiston Housing’s proposal, the existing 120 hotel suites at the Ramada would be converted into 63 senior living units. The existing conference center would remain unchanged, while interior improvements would include upgrades to the corridors, stairways, and building entries.

A Planning Board memo said the existing indoor pool “will be assessed and retained as part of the community room for the new dwellings.”

Lewiston Housing said the apartment units would be converted to meet local and state code requirements and the building would be upgraded to meet building, life safety, and energy codes as well as Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The new senior living apartments would also include a new elevator and a small lobby addition, a memo said.

A previous attempt by Lewiston Housing to acquire the hotel for the purposes of creating a 118-unit transitional housing project did not move forward after the proposal was opposed by city officials and was denied by the Board of Appeals based on the proposed size of units.

However, the large majority of the senior living units under the current proposal would be converted from two hotel suites.

“The redevelopment of the existing hotel is part of an emerging trend in converting hotels into housing and is a growing and successful trend in both the building renovation industry and affordable and senior housing market,” the Planning Board memo said.

Chris Kilmurry, executive director of Lewiston Housing, said the organization is still negotiating a purchase and sale agreement with the owners of the Ramada, Emerald Hospitality, and would not yet disclose a proposed sale price.

“However, we submitted our applications with their approval and a shared desire to complete the transaction, so I am confident we will have a contract in place within the coming weeks,” he said.

In June of 2023, Lewiston Housing and Emerald Hospitality were considering a sale worth $7.5 million.

According to the memo, the large parking lot would be reduced and a paved service area adjacent to the pool would be converted into a green space or park area.

Lewiston Housing is seeking approvals for a second phase of the Martel School senior housing project on Lisbon Street. A concept image from Platz Associates shows the 44-unit first phase at right, which will be constructed in 2025. The second phase would place another 44 units at left. City of Lewiston

Also this week, the Planning Board will take up a development review for a proposed second phase of Lewiston Housing’s redevelopment of the former Martel School site.

The project, which has seen several delays and past controversy, is finally set to begin at 860 Lisbon St. after the former school was demolished this past spring. If approved, the second phase would add another 44 units, doubling the overall project to 88 units.

Phase 1 was approved by the Planning Board in September 2023, but construction is not scheduled to start until the spring of 2025. In July, officials said an issue with the title is holding up the sale of the property to Lewiston Housing, but insisted the senior housing project is still on track.

According to documents from Lewiston Housing, both projects would be funded by using 9% low-income housing tax credits. Both applications are expected to be submitted in September 2024.