The brick, Gothic-Revival building at 66 State Street was purpose built in 1923 for the St. Dominic’s Parochial School for Boys, part of the St. Dominic’s Parish campus. More recently, the building housed various social service providers including Amistad, a nonprofit that provides support and addiction recovery services. In 2018, Kevin Bunker of Developers Collaborative purchased the building with an intent to develop it into market-rate housing. However, when Amistad was unable to find a new location, Bunker collaborated with the nonprofit and the City of Portland by creating a new vision--a supportive housing facility for women in recovery.
The redevelopment plan for the site involved two phases, with PM Construction overseeing work on both, while Essex Preservation Consulting ensured character-defining features were preserved. In the first phase, the former school was adapted into 38 single-occupancy bedrooms supported by communal bathrooms, kitchens, and gathering spaces. The three-story building suffered from decades of deferred maintenance and required a fresh start. Thankfully the school’s soaring, twelve-over-twelve wood windows, topped with original transoms, could be retained and restored, while all the existing systems needed to be fully replaced.
The second phase, designed by Archetype Architects and completed in September 2023, delivered 30 affordable housing units on land previously occupied by a parking lot. The three-story building fronts Danforth Street, matching the composition, massing, and brick exterior of the adjacent historic school. The fourth floor is stepped back and the rear half of the building is set apart from the historic streetscape, clad in modern materials.
Developer’s Collaborative and Amistad worked hand-in-hand to provide a full continuum of housing options for Freedom Place residents, in part by securing 25 housing vouchers for income-eligible women from MaineHousing. The two-phase project required multiple sources of financing, including state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and a 30-year TIF. Camden National Bank and Evernorth stepped up with the financing and supported the use of state and federal rehabilitation tax credits.
Safe, stable housing is vital for recovery, and women often have a more difficult time navigating the shelter system and having their unique needs met. Freedom Place provides women with secure housing and on-site programs to break the cycle of homelessness and promote recovery and pathways to productive lives. Re-entering the job market is one important aspect of recovery, and residents are able to participate in vocational training in the building's commercial kitchen.
Transforming places can also spark transformation in people. Freedom Place at 66 State Street is a groundbreaking model of private and nonprofit partnership. It is a socially responsible development that has used the tools of preservation to unlock life-changing resources for those in need.
Project Participants
Amistad
Archetype Architects
Camden National Bank
City of Portland
Curtis Thaxter
Developers Collaborative
Evernorth
MaineHousing
PM Construction
Terradyn Consultants
Photo Credits: Will Honan, Helix Media Marketing; Tim Greenway, Tim Greenway Photography
