Bayside Anchor

81 East Oxford StreetBayside Anchor Exterior

Portland Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) and Avesta Housing were co-developers on this 45-unit, mixed-income, mixed-use Passive House building located in the heart of East Bayside in Portland. The new building has nine market-rate units, and 36 affordable units targeted for individuals and families. Bayside Anchor is a service hub for low-income residents in East Bayside, giving the project its name as a stabilizing ‘anchor’ for the community. The street level is home to a Head Start preschool program and Community Policing and PHA offices. Bayside Anchor was Portland Housing’s first new development in 45 years, and a first step in revitalizing their properties in this neighborhood. These homes, along with the community services Bayside Anchor offers, will further enrich this already vibrant neighborhood.

Bayside Anchor is the first multifamily building in Portland certified as a Passive House building by the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS). Passive House is a set of design principles used to attain a quantifiable level of energy efficiency and resident comfort. The cost to operate each unit is predicted to be only $125 annually, and the heating load is estimated to be up to 85% less than if the building had been designed to meet minimum building code requirements. There is no centralized heating system needed in the building because the building is super insulated, airtight, and well ventilated. This design creates healthy, quiet, comfortable, and cost-effective homes for 45 households.

Portland Housing would like to recognize the partners involved in this project, including development partner Avesta Housing, Construction Manager Wright-Ryan Construction; the design team, which included Kaplan Thompson Architects, Carroll Associates Landscape Architects, Ransom Consulting, Owen Haskell Surveyors, John Turner Consulting, Becker Structural and APEX Engineering (HVAC); and owner representative Development Services of New England.

Financing for Bayside Anchor included a combination of local, state and federal sources and private investment, including:

  • Maine State Housing Authority (Low Income Housing Tax Credit issuer)
  • City of Portland Affordable Housing Program (Federal HOME funds)
  • Boston Capital (LIHTC equity Investor & Renewable Energy Credits)