Camden Rotarians explore Midcoast housing challenges
Joan Phaup
Martin Cates. (Photo courtesy Camden Rotary)
Camden Rotary Club focused on the local housing crunch during a recent meeting, Midcoast Realtor Martin Cates explained the current housing shortage and the need for attainable workforce housing. His talk was the seventh in a monthly series the club hosts to foster understanding and seek solutions to local economic and workforce development challenges.
The talk focused on changes in the market during the past year, some due to the influx of city dwellers concerned about the COVID pandemic. Cates asserted that the lack of housing is an ongoing challenge for the region.
Proposed bill would add fees to vacant houses, short-term rentals to support affordable housing
On Wednesday, a public hearing will be held for bill L.D. 1337 that would establish vacancy impact fees in Maine and use that money to support affordable housing Author: Jackie Mundry (NEWS CENTER Maine), Chloe Teboe (NEWS CENTER Maine) Published: 8:19 AM EDT April 14, 2021 Updated: 5:18 PM EDT April 14, 2021
AUGUSTA, Maine The affordable housing crisis in Maine has become more apparent over the past few years. It s why a state representative is proposing an innovative but somewhat controversial idea with a bill that he calls a targeted way to come address this growing issue.
Proposed bill would add fees to short term rentals in Maine newscentermaine.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newscentermaine.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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State Rep. Christopher Kessler is sponsoring a bill that would add a fee to short-term rentals and vacation homes that are vacant more than six months of the year to help fund affordable housing programs. Kessler’s district includes parts of Scarborough and South Portland, where in Thornton Heights, an affordable housing development seen at right is being built across from motels that frequently are used as housing for the homeless.
Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
Some Maine lawmakers want to impose new fees on wealthier property owners who own vacation homes or operate short-term rentals and use that additional revenue to increase affordable housing.
by Kim Jarrett, The Center Square | April 12, 2021 10:00 AM Print this article
Maine experienced a 40% decline in small business openings when compared to last year, the second largest drop nationwide, according to Jill Gonzalez, an analyst for WalletHub.
A report from WalletHub comparing the economic exposure to coronavirus among the 50 states ranks Maine 21st overall but 13th in the category “highly affected industries and workforces,” one of the two metrics used to rank the states. Double weight is given to the accommodations, food service, arts, entertainments and recreation industries.
“An important part of the state’s gross domestic product is generated by highly affected industries such as accommodation, food services, retail trade and educational services,” Gonzalez said. “Plus more than 57% of employment is from small businesses which have been gravely affected here.”