Description
Freedom Place at 66 State Street and 155 Danforth Street is a two-phase affordable and supportive housing development in Portland’s West End that demonstrates how creativity, compassion, and public purpose can reshape a neighborhood and expand opportunity for the most vulnerable in our community.
The first phase, Freedom Place, involved the renovation and adaptive reuse of the historic St. Dominic’s Parochial School, converting it into 38 single-room occupancy units with shared kitchens, bathrooms, and gathering spaces. Initially envisioned as a market-rate condominium project, the plan shifted when Developers Collaborative engaged with Amistad, a long-time social service tenant of the building. Recognizing the critical need for supportive housing, the development team partnered with Amistad to repurpose the building into transitional housing for women facing mental illness, substance use disorders, and chronic homelessness.
Phase two, 155 Danforth, is a newly-constructed four-story building next door that adds 30 affordable one-bedroom and studio apartments. The second phase provides residents, including those transitioning from Freedom Place, more independent housing while remaining connected to the supportive services that helped them in their early recovery.
Together, the two buildings represent a full continuum of housing from recovery support to longer-term stability. The buildings are located in a walkable, transit-connected, and highly desirable historic neighborhood of Portland. Residents of Freedom Place and 155 Danforth benefit from a community and environment tailored to their needs, with onsite case management, peer support, vocational training, and easy access to off-site services and amenities.
The project also reflects careful stewardship of history and place. The adaptive reuse of Freedom Place preserved a historic brick structure within a historic district, while 155 Danforth was designed to harmonize with the neighborhood’s architectural character. Both buildings are connected to a reinvigorated geothermal well system that provides heating and cooling for the entire site.
What successes and impact will this project have?
Freedom Place and 155 Danforth create new pathways and opportunities for women in recovery, a population often overlooked and underserved. Residents who may have previously cycled through homelessness, incarceration, or emergency rooms now have a place to call home, along with access to services that help rebuild health and self-sufficiency. The economic impact is felt in reduced strain on public services and through the on-site vocational training that helps residents reenter the workforce.
At a broader level, this project models how Portland and other cities across Maine can make space for inclusive, equitable housing in high-end neighborhoods. It offers a reliable approach to integrating recovery housing, permanent affordability, and historic preservation.
What challenges did you overcome in this project?
The project broke new ground in several ways. There was no existing model for the partnership between Developers Collaborative and Amistad, and the development required both parties to build a new framework rooted in shared values, trust, and communication. The technical complexity of the development was also significant, involving the conversion of a historic school, new construction on a constrained urban site, and coordination with local and federal preservation requirements. Archetype Architects and PM Construction worked closely with the development team and neighborhood stakeholders to deliver a final product that balances form and function with care.
Both phases involved layered, nontraditional financing, including federal and state Historic Tax Credits, a 30-year TIF agreement with the City of Portland, City of Portland HOME funds, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and project-based vouchers through Portland Housing Authority.