Topsham Housing Authority’s new eight-unit affordable housing project on Pleasant Street, named Pleasant Woods, is near completion and opened its doors to the public on Monday.
John Hodge, the director of Topsham and Brunswick housing authorities, has said that Topsham Housing Authority is targeting households earning between 50 and 80 percent of median income for the new housing.
On Monday, Hodge said the housing in not subsidized housing, but rather is affordable housing. Pleasant Woods is town house-style units. Of the two single-story units, one is fully accessible and the other is adaptable.
The units are already all spoken for and the first occupants are expected to start moving in next week if the final paving goes as planned.
Tenants range from 23 to 65 and most are families, with children ranging from 10 to 18 and also a baby on the way.
The rent is $1,121 for the three-bedroom units and $902 for the two-bedroom units. Two- and three-bedroom apartments are in high demand, Hodge said.
The Topsham and Brunswick housing authority has a waiting list of about 300 people, so often when people come to them looking for affordable housing they find themselves waiting for months or years. Hodge estimated they got between 12 and 15 applications for Pleasant Woods.
The low-to-moderate income residential housing project at 37 Pleasant St. was granted unanimous approval by the Topsham Planning Board in April 2016. The building — less than 6,000 square feet — was to be constructed on 1 acre of the 2.9- acre wooded lot.
The remaining land has been placed in conservation, which makes it a good deal for the neighborhood. A path runs along the project which many residents use.
The open house ran from 4-6 p.m. and was open to project partners, town officials, neighbors and the community.
Pleasant Woods makes 15 affordable housing units in Topsham owned by Topsham Housing Authority.
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