Maine is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, but the issue is far more complex than rising prices. In this episode of MEREDA Matters, Dr. Chris Herbert of Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and Elizabeth Frazier, Partner at Pierce Atwood sit down with MEREDA President, Shannon Richards to unpack why the system is strained, where the bottlenecks really sit, and what it will take to build our way to something more sustainable. From the cost pressures baked into construction and land markets to the promise (and limitations) of zoning reform, small-scale infill, ADUs, and new industrialized building technologies, this discussion connects national research to Maine’s on-the-ground reality. The takeaway? There is no single fix, but there is a path forward. If you care about the future of Maine’s communities, workforce, and neighborhoods, this is a conversation worth leaning into.

Corinne Watson, Co-Founder of Tiny Homes of Maine, and Kevin Hancock, Managing Owner of Hancock Lumber, sit down with MEREDA Vice President Jenn Small for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with the people driving responsible development in Maine. In this episode, Watson and Hancock talk about their partnership and plans for scaling Tiny Homes of Maine. Now located in Dyer Brook, Maine, Watson founded the company with her husband to support their belief that everyone deserves a home. After a fire burned down their facility in 2023, Hancock reached out to Watson to help. Aligned in what they cared about and their vision for scaling up the operation, the two forged a new partnership with their two businesses. Their conversation goes on to explore the process for buying a tiny home, and the two pieces of legislation – LD-1981 and LD-1530 – that Watson facilitated which helped open the floodgates for more tiny homes in Maine. The group also discusses commercial uses of tiny homes, how Tiny Homes of Maine are unique products – made in Maine with Maine materials – and how Watson developed a Lean Manufacturing Process to reduce the cost and production timeline. Listen to the episode to learn more!

Andrew Silsby, President and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank, and Tim Soley, President and CEO of East Brown Cow, sit down for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with the people driving responsible development in Maine. In this episode Silsby sits in the interviewer chair and asks Soley about his path to real estate development and his passion and drive for the work. Solely goes on to discuss why he likes working with community banks for financing projects because of their long-term focus, as well as how he builds and maintains relationships with banks. The conversation continues with an exploration of East Brown Cow’s Old Port Square Project and vision for community development in Portland, their commitment to sustainability and drive for preserving the historic character of the Old Port, as well as how Soley navigates the different economic cycles as a developer. Solely also shares some advice for up-and-coming developers and his view on making mistakes and being a contrarian. Listen to the episode to learn more!

Bob Montgomery-Rice, President and CEO of Bangor Savings Bank, and Matthew Lewis, Director of Four Directions Development Corporation, sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with the people driving responsible development in Maine. In this episode, Montgomery-Rice and Lewis share their insight on the development landscape in the Bangor area. Lewis, a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, provides an overview of his non-profit, which is a Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), enabling them to provide capital and resources in areas that are difficult for banks to access. Lewis goes on to share how historically Tribal communities have faced barriers to accessing capital, and how Four Directions pioneered a program for home ownership in Tribal Nations. The group goes on to discuss the need for creativity and collaboration in finding solutions to difficult problems like the housing crisis. Montgomery-Rice highlights a success story in Bangor – the Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park – as an example of the opportunities for innovative solutions. The group also delves into the current legislative session; how their work helps provide people access to owning property, which is crucial for wealth-building; and how the Bangor area has development opportunities at a lower price-point than the Portland market. Listen to the episode to learn more!

Michael Barton, Managing Director of Real Estate Development at Reveler, and Jason Howe, Partner and chair of the Real Estate and Finance Practice Group at Preti Flaherty, sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with the people driving responsible development in Maine. In this episode, Barton and Howe share their insights on Portland’s ReCode. State Law requires that municipalities review and update their zoning on a regular basis and the goal of ReCode was to create a unified development code to serve the future of Portland. The group discusses what changes and opportunities resulted from this process. Describing how the ordinance went from 800 pages to about 300 pages, Barton and Howe talk about how the finished product is a functional roadmap that is much more streamlined. The group goes on to discuss their big takeaways from the new code, including the elimination of the single family zone, opportunities to develop off peninsula to take advantage of existing infrastructure such as transportation lines, and the increased building height limits. The conversation then turns to the housing crisis and how ReCode could help encourage more development. Listen to the episode to learn more!

Matt O’Malia, Co-Founder and CEO of TimberHP, and Ben Herzog, Wood Technologist at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with people driving responsible development in Maine. In this episode, O’Malia, who is a licensed architect and manufactures wood-based insulation in Maine, and Herzog, who leads Wood Composites research at UMaine with the world’s largest 3D printer, talk about innovation in Maine. O’Malia shares his path from architect to entrepreneur, and discusses what is behind his drive for sustainable innovation. The group goes on to discuss solving problems, getting new products to the marketplace, and collaborating with both the public and private sectors for funding. O’Malia describes how he was able to set up manufacturing in a retired mill in Madison, and the value of using the existing infrastructure and human capital to launch TimberHP. The group also delves into the process behind TimberHP: using the waste product from lumber production - the wood residuals - and converting it into sustainable building products. Herzog also discusses the 3D printer at UMaine, which prints with wood residuals and was able to print an entire house – the BioHome3D, a structure that is completely recyclable. The group then focuses the conversation on the housing crisis and how innovation will be essential to solving the complex issue. What do O’Malia and Herzog see as the future of construction? Listen to the episode to find out!

Elizabeth (Beth) Frazier, Partner at Pierce Atwood, and Jason Howe, Partner and chair of the Real Estate and Finance Practice Group at Preti Flaherty, sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with people driving responsible development in Maine. In this episode, Frazier and Howe provide a legislative update, setting the stage for what is going on in Augusta during the 132nd Legislature. The group focuses their discussion on the three bills that MEREDA has put forth this session including, LD 435, LD1396, and the yet to be printed “WIN” Act. Delving into LD 435, an expansion of the historic tax credit, the group discusses how this piece of legislation pays for itself and acts as an affordable housing booster while also contributing to the state’s climate resilience. LD 1396 is an act that amends Maine’s subdivision standards in two ways. The group discusses the goal for this bill: encouraging small scale infill development in rural areas and promoting the creation of housing units in existing structures such as mills throughout the state. Frazier, Howe, and Richards then go on to explore the upcoming bill known as the “WIN” Act or the “Workforce Infill Neighborhoods” Act. Ultimately, this is a bill that will provide density bonuses to build more workforce housing. The group discusses the need for more regular housing for regular people in Maine. The hope is that this bill will be a “win-win” by incentivizing developers to build and requiring landlords to rent to the “missing middle” of the housing market. What are Frazier and Howe hopeful for in the coming legislation? Listen to the episode to find out!

Ryan Kanteres of Simons Architects, Paul Becker of Thornton Tomasetti, and Matt Tonello of Consigli Construction sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for MEREDA Matters - the podcast that lets you listen in on conversations with people driving responsible development in Maine. The group discusses mass timber - an engineered product that can perform like steel beams. Kanteres, Becker, and Tonello are all experienced in working with and advocating for the product. They talk about why it is important, its history of use in Europe and the Northwestern United States, and where there are opportunities in Maine to implement this sustainable building material. The discussion delves into how developers and builders can make mass timber cost effective for their projects, and outlines the learning curve for using it efficiently. The group also talks about the environmental impact of mass timber, namely its low carbon footprint and carbon sequestering properties. The discussion goes on to examine how Maine’s working forests could be repurposed for mass timber production and the need for local manufacturing to help streamline the supply chain. If Ryan, Paul, and Matt could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Listen to the episode to find out!