The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Stacy M. Symbol Apartments (Westbrook)

MEREDA Recognizes its 2024 Notable Project Award Recipients -

Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state's most "noteworthy and significant" real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA's belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine's economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide.

This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA's 2025 "Notable Night" social celebration in May.

In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we'll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine's economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation.

Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural "Groundbreaking Maine" publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025

MEREDA's 2024 Top 9 recipients include:

Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough)

99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta)

The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland)

Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Care (Belfast)

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS)

Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook)

Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook)

Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland)

Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland)

Please join us this week in celebrating Stacy M. Symbol Apartments.

MEREDA: Describe the building and project.

Westbrook Development Corporation: Stacy M. Symbol Apartments is a 3-story, 60-unit affordable housing community for seniors located in downtown Westbrook and uniquely designed with a focus on wellness. Developed during the pandemic, the project emphasizes holistic wellness. Amenities include on-site walking trails, free WiFi for telemedicine access, indoor bicycle storage, a free gym, a library, and a community room hosting visiting nurses and fostering social connections. The building is thoughtfully designed with sustainability at its core, incorporating solar panels, energy-efficient mini-split heating and cooling, EV charging station infrastructure, and all-electric systems. Symbol Apartments strives to address the urgent need for affordable housing while enhancing quality of life and contributing to environmental conservation and overall community wellbeing.

MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project?

Westbrook Development Corporation: As many of us know, Maine is facing a housing crisis, with affordable housing being particularly hard it. With few options and long wait times for extended living facilities, the need for aging in place, senior housing has become more and more important. Westbrook Housing, already has several 55+ affordable apartment buildings, but what we have found is that people are no longer living in them for 5-10 years, they are staying for 15-20 or even longer. Meanwhile Maine's aging population needs a safe, friendly, and affordable place to call home.

MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started?

Westbrook Development Corporation: As with all of our construction projects, the process can take several years before reaching construction. This particular project required rezoning the land and triggered a very common review process by the State's DEP office called Site Location of Development (SLODA). The SLODA process alone can take up to a year to complete. We then needed to get all State and local approvals including Westbrook Planning Board approvals before applying to Maine Housing's LIHTC program for funding. This project, like many projects that started during the pandemic had a funding gap, requiring WDC to find additional funding sources before moving forward. All together the project took over three years from concept to construction.

MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed.

Westbrook Development Corporation: Symbol Apartments faced significant geotechnical and infrastructure challenges that required innovative solutions to move forward. During early development, we discovered substantial Presumpscot Clay beneath the site, necessitating major design modifications. Large volumes of clay were removed from half of the building's footprint, and a new, expansive basement was incorporated. This adjustment not only stabilized the foundation but also optimized the building's functionality by relocating back-of-house features such as the laundry, bike storage, mechanical room, and trash room to the basement, maintaining the project's budget and timeline. Our team's ability to adapt and innovate ensured the project's success, providing critical affordable housing while overcoming significant logistical and engineering hurdles. These solutions highlight the importance of resilience and creativity in tackling Maine's housing crisis.

MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was….

Westbrook Development Corporation: WDC continuously seeks to maximize sustainable design while minimizing the ongoing energy use of our buildings. The aesthetic nature of the gabled roof and dormers helped give the building its charm and helped the relatively large building blend into a residential single-family neighborhood. However, these same gables created challenges in achieving an efficient, airtight envelope. A ventilated cold roof has always made the most sense for gabled attic spaces, but even with a careful and knowledgeable construction crew, and redundancies in air sealing details, every mechanical or electrical penetration into the attic space posed a potential problem. Although we passed our blower door test, MSHA's increasing standards will force the industry to rethink how and if gabled roofs can be used as traditionally expected. Moving forward, we must place greater focus on how mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems interact with the attic spaces created by complex roof designs.

MEREDA: Now that it's complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable?

Westbrook Development Corporation: Symbol Apartments unique emphasis on holistic wellness for the residents would be the feature that makes this project most notable. The architect Barry Yudaken, from Archetype Architects designed the building to seamlessly blend into the neighborhood of single family homes. Every aspect of the building from the color choices to the thoughtfully located gathering spaces an overarching sense of calm. Many of the residents have beautiful views of the 40 acres of preservation land and walking trails, allowing the outside light and beauty of the surrounding of nature to come into their living spaces. The building also features a library, free gym, and indoor bicycle storage room to help keep residents active. To round out the wellness approach, Westbrook Housing's Support Services partners with outside organizations to provide numerous opportunities to eat, create, learn, and grow together as a community.

This project exemplifies environmental responsibility at the local level by balancing sustainable urban agriculture with community needs, serving as a potential global model. It not only strengthens the local food system but also reduces reliance on imported goods, fostering a more resilient and eco-conscious future.