CAMDEN, Maine — The conversion of three adjacent downtown commercial buildings into a 32-unit apartment complex should be finished by June.
The Camden Planning Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to approve the project, called Knox Mill Village.
Renovations to the second and third floors of the three-story buildings that run along Mechanic Street, beginning at the intersection with Washington Street, have been ongoing since last fall, when Joseph and Paula Goudreau, through KNSM Camden LLC, purchased the three connected structures from Matthew Orne.
The renovations into one- and two-bedroom apartments are expected to be completed by the end of June, according to Jeff Clements of general contractor J.M. Brown of Hermon.
Joseph Goudreau said after the vote that an open house for the Knox Mill Village will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 1.
The planners went through a lengthy review of the project Wednesday evening with little discussion. Deb Chapman, one resident at the public hearing, asked whether the new owners would allow the Camden farmers market to continue to use the upper parking lot the organization has used in years before.
Goudreau said there are no plans for that parking lot this summer. But he added that he has not spoken with organizers of the farmers market and said they should be the ones to contact him.
Chair Lowrie Sargent encouraged Goudreau after the vote to work with the farmers market and the Camden/Rockport Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways Committee. The Pathways Committee has had talks with Goudreau about the possibility of the path going along or through some of his property, Sargent said, and he simply wanted to reinforce that proposal.
The original goal of the Knox Mill Village was for it to be limited to people 55 years and older. Goudreau said that at the suggestion of town officials, adults of any age can apply to live in the apartments.
The Goudreaus operate the nearby Camden Hills Villa, which is similar to an assisted living facility.
Joseph Goudreau said earlier this year that the new apartments would help some older residents to continue living in Camden by being downtown and closer to services.
The one-bedroom apartments will lease for $1,950 per month, and the two-bedroom ones will range up to $3,000 per month. The lease will include all utilities, cable television and wireless Internet. The rent also will include continental breakfasts in a central location and a cleaning of the apartments once per week.
Goudreau said the views from the upper floors are amazing, with the Megunticook River and a waterfall next to the apartments.
The ground floor of the buildings will remain commercial, as is required under the town’s zoning laws.
The issue of the potential conversion of the property’s upper floors from commercial to residential use was a source of debate last year by the town Select Board, with at least one member concerned about the loss of business space. Board member Leonard Lookner even discussed the possibility of a moratorium on such conversions at the time.
But when Orne appeared before the Select Board, he convinced the panel there was sufficient business space downtown and that conversion to residential use would assist downtown businesses because those new residents would shop downtown.