PORTLAND, Maine - After conducting several studies, Portland officials held a forum Wednesday night to look into the city's housing issues.
"We're now recommending some policy approaches to addressing the housing issues raised in these studies," said Jeff Levine, director of Portland's Planning Department. "We're really looking to encourage housing development by up-zoning, by looking at ways to make it easier to build housing in the city of Portland. But at the same time, we want to ensure that the housing that's built serves the residents of Portland by ensuring that there's a certain amount of workforce housing, and affordable housing, as part of the mix."
Residents have complained of a lack of affordable homes in Maine's biggest city. Portland officials are currently considering an ordinance which would require at least 10 percent of large multi-unit projects be affordable by those earning a median income - about $75,000 for a family of four.
