The Center Invites Public to Celebrate Apartments and Commercial Space in Redeveloped Penobscot Avenue Building, Jan. 14

The Center is moving the needle on housing in northern Maine with completion of its latest multi-use building, which is providing Millinocket with five new apartments and two commercial spaces.

The public is invited to celebrate the redevelopment of 196 Penobscot Avenue in downtown Millinocket at a ribbon cutting event on Jan. 14. Board and staff from the Northern Forest Center, project partners and funders, local leaders, and construction partners will be on hand to celebrate the success of this project.

“We’re thrilled with the results of the renovation,” said Center Program Manager Isabella Ronson-Amrein. “Even more, we’re excited to see the apartments filled with people who will make this their home and contribute to the vibrancy of Millinocket. We are especially grateful for the efforts of the local contractors and suppliers who made this project a success.”

Speakers at the event will include Millinocket Town Manager Peter Jamieson, President of the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce Gail Fanjoy, Center board members Jay Espy and Lucas St. Clair, and Center President Rob Riley.

The event begins at 3 pm at 196 Penobscot Avenue in Millinocket, Maine. Light refreshments will be provided. Free public parking is available on Penobscot Avenue. Registration is appreciated but not required.

New Housing through Impact Investments and Philanthropy

The Center funded the redevelopment from diverse sources, including impact investment capital from the Center’s Northern Forest Fund, U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovations grant, Penobscot County ARPA funds, and charitable donations.

The building, more than a century old, now includes five apartments and two commercial spaces. It has been updated to modern standards while maintaining the historic features of the building.

“These new apartments are meeting a crucial need in the region for year-round, middle-market rental housing,” said Mike Wilson, senior program director at the Center. “This project follows the model of our first housing initiative in Millinocket and subsequent successes in Lancaster, New Hampshire, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and Bethel, Maine. In each of these, we restored in-town buildings to create quality apartments, helping to revitalize each community.”

In addition to rental apartments, the building features two commercial spaces designed to contribute to downtown vibrancy. Baby Ruthies, a favorite ice cream takeout and restaurant that is open year-round, has been open since March in one of the units. The other commercial space is available for lease.

The new renovation in Millinocket advances many of the Center’s goals, including prioritizing the use of regional wood products in construction. Throughout the 125-year-old building, there is reclaimed original wood flooring, Timber HP’s wood fiber insulation from Madison, Maine, a  modern wood pellet boiler for full-building heat, and new birch wood flooring from Maine.

The redevelopment project complements the Center’s ongoing work in the Katahdin region, including projects that improve recreation access and resources, provide workforce development in local schools, enhance downtown vibrancy, and build non-profit capacity.