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Friday, March 27, 2026
A New Beginning for 1871 Forest Avenue
A long-vacant site on Forest Avenue, one many of us remember as the former Tortilla Flat restaurant, is now proposed for new housing. This project brings 33 new homes to District 5, with more potentially on the way.
What Happened
Avesta Housing has submitted plans to redevelop 1871 Forest Avenue with a 33-unit residential building. This proposal is part of their Home for Good program, which combines permanent housing with on-site supportive services.
After meeting with the development team today, I want to share a few key details:
- This project will include 33 studio apartments designed for recently unhoused individuals
- Preble Street will provide on-site services and support for residents
- The model is similar to Logan Place, Houston Commons, and Florence House, all of which have strong track records in Portland
- This is Phase 1 of a plan to develop additional family housing on another portion of the site in the future
The proposal also includes site improvements along Forest Avenue, including sidewalks, landscaping, and better integration with the street.
Why It Matters
This is a site that has been sitting vacant for years in a highly visible and important location in our district.
It is also an area where we are already seeing significant investment, including the ongoing redevelopment of Riverton Park by the Portland Housing Authority. Adding housing here, in a place with access to transit, services, and amenities aligns with our broader goals as a city.
As supportive housing, or “housing first,” this development is designed to provide stable, permanent homes for people who need additional support.
With the Homeless Services Center nearby, and reported encampments in the woods on and around this site, this neighborhood is already experiencing the impacts of people living outside. Residents and businesses in Riverton have raised concerns with me about panhandling, drug use, property crime, and pedestrian safety. These concerns are valid, and they reflect what people are experiencing day-to-day. One of the most effective ways to respond is to help people move out of the woods, out of the shelter system, and into stable housing. This development is intended to do exactly that.
With on-site services provided by Preble Street, this model is designed to support people who need help staying housed. We know that outcomes improve when people have a stable place to live. Mental health challenges are less publicly disruptive and easier to manage when someone is housed. Substance use and chronic disease is more treatable when someone is housed. Cycling people through encampments, emergency rooms, and the criminal justice system only amplifies those challenges.
I also want to acknowledge something I know some neighbors are feeling: a desire to see market-rate housing or different types of development on this site. That perspective is part of a broader concern about how this neighborhood has changed over time.
At the same time, this is a site where we already see the impacts of unmet housing needs. Choosing not to build housing here does not mean those challenges will go away. They simply remain unaddressed.
Developments like Logan Place, Houston Commons, and Florence House have shown that this model can work in Portland. They provide structure, support, and stability. They are a missing link in addressing homelessness in a long-term, sustainable way.
Today I asked the developer to think carefully about how this project fits into the broader neighborhood context. This area already includes a mix of housing, services, and public investments. It is important that we approach this thoughtfully, with an eye toward integration, safety, and community cohesion.
I also raised the importance of the Riverton Trolley Park. This is a real asset in the neighborhood, and one that has not been used to its full potential. I have asked Avesta to think intentionally about how residents of this development can be part of activating that space in a positive way, whether through organized activities, or programming that connects people to the outdoors and to each other. We should be thinking not just about housing people, but about how people become part of our community.
What Comes Next
A neighborhood meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 1st at 5:30 PM at the Friends Meeting House, right next door to the site. I encourage anyone interested to attend, ask questions, and learn more about the proposal.
This meeting is an important opportunity to hear directly from the developer, understand how the project will operate, and share feedback.
As this project moves through the Planning Board process, there will be additional opportunities for public input.
ksykes@portlandmaine.gov 207-558-5764
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Kate Sykes for District Five 