February 21: As development around former Scarborough Downs surges, city council looks to slow housing projects 

Scarborough Town Council will hold a public forum next week for a proposed ordinance to regulate “the pace and location of new housing within the community.” Council Chair John Anderson notes the Town Council is considering a limit to development “to 25 units a year in rural zones. Over three years, 300 units would be permitted in certain “growth areas,” and 450 units in the area around the Downs.” 

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February 22: South Portland considers rent control and homeless shelters 

On Tuesday night, South Portland City Council met and held the first reading of “a draft rent stabilization ordinance.” The proposed ordinance looks to “cap rent increases for current tenants at 10%, but only for landlords who own 15 or more rental units.” South Portland officials are looking at Portland’s rent control measures, says Mayor Kate Lewis, “I have heard some stories from landlords there who are finding it hard to keep with inflation, property taxes, the types of improvements they need to make in their properties.” 

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February 22: As CT legislature debates rent caps, I-Team looks at other cities/town with similar rent control 

RHA President, Brit Vitalius, was interviewed by the I-Team at Channel 3 in Connecticut for a recent story on rent control as their state contemplates rent control legislature. “Many of the rents were well below market because that’s just how they go and they all got stuck there... It froze the market at a point in time in 2020 and the entire market just got stuck there.” 

Read the full article here. 

February 22: South Portland apartment complex to open soon for homeless asylum seekers 

Avesta Housing recently received an occupancy permit for the 52-unit community, West End II, and aims to start moving asylum seekers in “within a few weeks.” 

Read the full article here.