Avesta Housing Turns Historic Farmhouse Property into Housing

Southgate provides 38 affordable homes for low-income families while preserving a 215-year-old farmhouse, one of the oldest surviving structures in Scarborough, Maine.

The farmhouse was constructed by Robert Southgate and is one of the best examples of Federal-style brick farmhouses in New England and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over time, it has served as a retreat, a restaurant and inn, and as housing, but in recent years had fallen into disrepair and was in jeopardy of being lost.

Avesta Housing rehabilitated the landmark into eight apartments and developed a new 30-unit apartment building as part of the project to serve residents earning no more than 50% and 60% of the area median income. There’s a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes. Twenty percent of the units are for households that have experienced or are at risk of homelessness.

“Affordable housing is twofold,” says Rebecca Hatfield, vice president of real estate development and management. “It’s meant to create housing for people in need, but it also strengthens community, which is core to our mission as an organization. This development embraces both of those goals.”

Southgate has a unique mix of long-term residents of Scarborough and the neighboring communities and recently arrived immigrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. About 15 languages are spoken at Southgate, and there are also at least eight countries represented at the property.

To assist residents, Avesta provides a resident services coordinator and a housing stability caseworker.

Financing for the $8 million project included low-income housing and historic tax credits.