Once again, Westbrook finds itself with a unique opportunity – to create 37 units of affordable housing in long-vacant buildings at the St. Hyacinth parish. Within walking distance of the proposed project is the Dana Warp Mill, with tens of thousands of square feet available for commercial lease. Visit Doughboys on Bridge Street at lunch time and you will get an accurate picture of the typical worker at the Dana Warp Mill – young, well educated, and, with gas at close to $4 a gallon, budget conscious. Venture inside the mill building and you will find a wide variety of businesses – companies that Westbrook is proud to have, from JobsIntheUS to Common Census, the Bakery Photographic Collective and BRL Direct.
What is one thing that the Dana Warp Mill lacks? Parking.
Neighborhood activist James Tranchmontagne raises a valid point when he questions the need for more affordable housing in his Brown Street neighborhood. But what if those proposing the project – Avesta and Developers Collaborative were to conduct a targeted marketing program to workers in the Dana Warp Mill? Imagine young professionals – many in their first jobs and first apartments – walking to work. It is a win-win-win situation – Westbrook
businesses get affordable housing for their employees, the employees save thousands of dollars by walking to work, and Dana Warp Mill requires one less parking space. Multiply that parking space by the 37 units proposed for the St. Hyacinth project, and that’s a considerable sized parking lot that the city doesn’t need.
Kevin Bunker from the Developers Collaborative should sit down with Dana Warp Mill owner Sasha Cook to discuss a plan for marketing the proposed affordable housing units to employees at the Dana Warp Mill. The arrangement does need to complicated or binding – but it doesn’t need to be, as it is in the best interest of all involved.
My next suggestion is that the meeting take place at the Frog & Turtle with [owner] James Tranchemontagne. I am fortunate to know all three and I know they can reach an understanding. Like I said earlier – it’s a win-win-win situation.
Keith Luke is the former director of economic and community development for both Westbrook and Windham. He lives in Cape Elizabeth.
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