The first of nine buildings in the Wedgewood housing development between Walnut and Pine streets in Lewiston, seen Oct. 4, will be ready for occupancy this month. The 82-unit project is the first phase of the Choice Neighborhoods initiative. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — The first residents of the 82-unit Wedgewood housing development between Walnut and Pine streets will move in next week, marking a significant milestone for the yearslong Choice Neighborhoods redevelopment plan.

According to Chris Kilmurry, executive director of Lewiston Housing, the move-in date for the first units is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 21, and the developers anticipate new units coming online monthly until the summer of 2025.

Kilmurry said after opening applications for the units early this month, they had received 67 by late last week, but “anticipate that number growing quickly” given a previous waitlist of more than 300.

The development is a total of 82 mixed-income units in nine buildings, including the 150-year-old Wedgewood house that is being restored using historic tax credits. It’s the first phase of housing for the initiative that will construct 186 new apartments, replacing 92 “distressed” units at the Maple Knoll and Lafayette complexes. A majority of the units will be income-restricted between 30% and 60% of area median income, but there will also be 50 market-rate units.

For Lewiston, the process to get to this point has taken more than a decade of planning, along with additional hurdles brought on by skyrocketing construction costs. But, officials say people moving in is a sign of momentum for the Choice Neighborhoods project that looks to transform the neighborhood with safe housing, along with improvements such as additional health care, education and workforce development.

Lewiston’s Tree Streets neighborhood includes two of Maine’s poorest census tracts, and the “transformation plan” was seen as a 25-year community vision for reimagining the neighborhood. After years of community-led planning, the city became the smallest community to ever receive the $30 million federal grant in 2021.

Work continues Oct. 4 on one of nine buildings at the Wedgewood housing project between Walnut and Pine streets in Lewiston. The view is from a second-floor window of a completed four-bedroom apartment in the complex. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Earlier this month, officials working on the development told the City Council the project has seen a 65% increase in construction costs since work began to plan the properties in 2019. The city, along with its development partners Avesta Housing and Lewiston Housing, has received two supplemental grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Catherine Elliot, development officer for Avesta, was lauded by city officials for her work to get the projects over roadblocks, including complications with the Wedgewood house. She told the council that as work to restore the building began, crews found that several fires throughout the years had impacted the structure, and work commenced to add steel supports and other means to shore up the building.

Elliot also said that it’s typically difficult to include market-rate units into these types of developments, but the federal grant allowed for a broader income mix for the units, making it a diverse development. Officials have also estimated that the neighborhood has seen $110 million in new investment since the Choice Neighborhoods award was announced, which includes small-scale improvements from property owners in the neighborhood.

The second phase of development, approved last year, is the 104-unit DeWitt project along Pine Street across from Kennedy Park.

City staff said beyond the housing part of the initiative, other elements are in progress as well. That includes expanded child care with Promise Early Education, a number of public art projects and an emphasis on health care.

The first two of nine buildings in the Wedgewood housing project between Walnut and Pine streets in Lewiston are seen Oct. 4. The development will include 82 apartments with from one to four bedrooms. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Nate Libby, assistant director of economic and community development, said access to health care that “residents can walk to and afford” is a critical component of the plan. Renovations will start soon on the B-Street Health Center on Birch Street, which will result in new adult and pediatric dental care, more behavioral health services, and a new pharmacy in the Tree Streets.

“These new services will also increase the number of health care jobs available for folks, which is another important benefit of this work,” he said.

Lewiston Housing said part of its work will be to connect residents with the available services.

Mayor Carl Sheline said last week that residents moving into the Choice Neighborhoods housing “represents a significant milestone” for the city.

“Beyond housing, this federal grant also provides for community development that will help improve the lives of Choice Neighborhoods residents,” he said. “This is a win for Lewiston.”

Kilmurry said the second building will likely be move-in ready in November, and the remaining buildings will become available in the winter, spring and summer of 2025.

According to Lewiston Housing, the monthly rent ranges between $773 and $1,375 for a one-bedroom; $927 and $1,600 for a two-bedroom; $1,071 and $1,285 for a three-bedroom; and $1,195 and $1,434 for a four-bedroom. The ranges depend on the type of apartment and income levels. Monthly rent includes heat, water, internet, trash removal, cooling and electricity.