FARMINGTON
Homes to get upgrades
By Leslie Bridgers
Staff writer
FARMINGTON -- Nearly 20 mobile homes on High Street will get energy-efficiency upgrades during the next 18 months, making them more affordable for the low-income families who rent them.
Keith Swett, who manages the housing development at 82 High St., said the goal is to double the efficiency of the homes, which would cut heating bills in half.
"It's going to save these people, who don't have much money, a lot of money," said Swett.
The project is being funded by a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant, as well as about $100,000 from the Department of Energy. The renovations are slated to begin next month and should be complete by the end of 2011.
The upgrades will cost about $20,000 for each of the mobile homes, according to Farmington Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser.
Kaiser said the homes are about 20 years old and would cost about $70,000 to replace. With the renovations, he said, they should last another 20 or more years.
One of the 18 homes in the development had been overrun by feral cats and needed to be replaced entirely, according to Bill Crandall of Western Maine Community Action, which is overseeing the project. A few weeks ago, Maine Housing Authority replaced it with a new Energy Star mobile home that will serve as a model for the renovation of the other 17 homes.
Nick Newell, who currently lives in an apartment that's also part of the housing development, will move with his wife and their three children into the model home next month.
"I'm anxious for winter," Newell said Friday. "I want to see if it can live up to its reputation."
Meanwhile, the renovations will begin on the first of the 17 mobile homes. The work will include replacing windows, doors, hot water tanks and insulation. Crandall said he's trying to rally volunteers to do some cosmetic work, too, such as painting the homes.
In the future, Kaiser said, he'd like to see the 13 apartments in the development upgraded as well, or replaced entirely, but that project wouldn't happen for at least another couple of years.
The apartments are in an old farmhouse and adjacent barn, which might not be worth the money it would take to make efficiency improvements. The mobile homes, on the other hand, have sound structures that could hold up for several decades, he said, but the renovations are necessary for keeping them affordable to operate.
"The government's getting a good deal," Kaiser said.
Leslie Bridgers -- 861-9252
lbridgers@centralmaine.com
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3 COMMENTS
longpondloon said...
..'should hold up for several decades'...'the government is getting a good deal'...I have heard of putting lipstick on a pig but this is ridiculous. These things should be hauled away to the dump and will be soon after the money is spent on them.
July 17, 2010 at 7:36 AM Report abuse
ODJzdXBwb3J0ZXI%3D said...
1 thing to think about is the community is low income. The renovations may not include doing any structure work because the is none to do. The project is all about saving money and making the community more efficient. You may have the money if you were living in a home that was 20 years old but think about it... you can change them out at anywhere from $20000 - $60000 and higher a home. As long as the structural integrity is sound, that $20000 can improve the home to last another 20 years and them some. Before you go attacking this project look into it. There are a lot of other communities doing the same thing.
July 17, 2010 at 10:48 PM Report abuse
fairisfair said...
Not everybody in Maine has a trust fund or a million dollar home. This project could make a huge difference for the people who live in these homes. It's time something is done for people who aren't making $180K+ per year in a high-end administrative position. Yes, there are low income people who take advantage of the system; we know that. There are also those who work full-time in poorly paid positions, who do their very best, and can't climb out of their financial hole. I hope this project helps some deserving people.
July 18, 2010 at 10:55 AM Report abuse