Infrastructure Tools

Adaptive Reuse

Definition: The process of using an old site or building for a purpose other than which it was built or designed. Pre-WWII industrial and institutional buildings are commonly repurposed due to their durable construction and dimensions suitable for housing.

Benefits: By leveraging existing buildings, especially those that are large and spacious, communities can facilitate the transformation of the underutilized buildings into livable, affordable housing units. Adaptive reuse contributes to resource conservation and reduced energy consumption, neighborhood and local economic revitalization, and increased local tax revenues.

Getting Started: Begin by inventorying both publicly and privately-owned buildings, focusing on those vacant, underused, or not currently meeting community needs. Ensure that zoning is flexible enough to allow residential uses in areas previously zoned exclusively for commercial, industrial, or other non-residential uses, and that infrastructure such as water, sewer, and electricity can support the new housing units.

State Policy & Local Examples: The City of Saco adapted the site of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Church for the purpose of rental housing and an accompanying parking lot.

The City of Saco in 2013 proposed demolishing the unused Notre Dame de Lourdesto Church to make way for a parking lot. After the city revised its plan, a developer purchased the church and converted it into 19 apartment units. The project received an award from Maine Preservation.

Sewer & Water System Analysis

Definition: An assessment of how much development can be supported by existing infrastructure for water and wastewater. If sufficient infrastructure does not exist, housing development costs may be particularly high. Alternatively, infrastructure already sized appropriately for additional housing may incentivize development.

Benefits: By determining how much residential growth a municipality (or particular areas within it) can support, a municipality can better inform its use of other tools (like land use and incentives) to influence development. Local officials may also dedicate resources to upgrading infrastructure deemed inadequate to support growth.

Getting Started: Engage your public works department and/or consult with a civil engineering firm regarding potential capacity studies.

State Policy & Local Examples: Much of the Greater Portland region relies on the Portland Water District for sewer and water service. It crucial to determine if the water district’s existing infrastructure has enough capacity to support specific new developments.

Biddeford has been working on a major water and sewer separation project in its downtown.

Universal Design

Definition: An approach to the development of environments and products that are inherently accessible to aging adults, people without disabilities, and people with disabilities. Universal design creates an environment that is inclusive and can be used by as many people as possible.

Benefits: By providing housing with accessibility for individuals regardless of physical ability, universal design allows for seniors to age in place or the physically disabled to live independently which keeps neighborhoods vibrant and minimizes displacement when residents suffer from reduced mobility.

Getting Started: Review and identify opportunities to encourage or even require universal design in zoning and land use ordinances. Municipalities can adjust the existing development review process to ensure that plans are consistent with universal design principles and/or pass a universal design ordinance requiring universal design features in a certain percentage of all new multi-family and publicly funded housing projects. Either action may require training for code enforcement officers and inspectors on universal design principles and benefits.

State Policy & Local Examples: In June 2023, Scarborough approved permits for a first-of-its-kind affordable housing development for people with physical disabilities at The Downs.

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In partnership with Preservation of Affordable Housing, 31HoME is using universal design practices to develop a fully accessible, affordable residential building at the Downs in Scarborough, Maine, pictured here. Rendering courtesy of 3iHoME.