Thursday, January 10, 2019

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND LOW INCOME HOUSING

EDEN APARTMENTS

Woodbury Road
Bar Harbor


Eden Apartments is located in a country setting on the Woodbury Road in Bar Harbor, Maine - yet only a 15 minute walk from the center of town.  The housing project is made up of 6 duplexes, five of which are two bedroom apartments.  The sixth duplex is two story and each side has three bedrooms.  The waiting list for the three bedroom apartments are quite long..
Each apartment has a front and rear lawn which is mowed by the housing authority, as well as a fenced in rear play area for small kids, and each unit has its own long driveway.  There is a garbage dumpster on site by the housing authority  garage, with no fee for deposing garbage.
In recent years the entire kitchen's was torn out and rebuilt with brand new cupboards as well as brand new electric stoves and refrigerators.

Woodbury Road, Eden Apartments - driveways along left side of roadway


HEAT;
Units can be heated by two separate means, there is the baseboard electric heat, which some residents prefer, but can get expensive.  Each unit also has recently been fitted with air exchangers which heat each unit at half the cost of electric heat, and also serve as air conditioning in summer months.
PARKING;
Each unit has its own long driveway.  Driveways are plowed as needed by the housing authority, you do need to shovel your walkway.
MAIL:
Each apartment has its own mailbox, and mail delivery is anywhere from 2pm to 3;30 pm six days a week.
PLAYGROUND;
Yes, located at about the center of the project and easy to access.
SMOKING;
Smoking is not allowed in any of the apartments not on the outside grounds.
FLOWER GARDENS;
You can plant a small flower garden along the side of the apartment.
STORAGE AREA;
Each apartment has its own outside fenced in area, and each unit also has a large storage room inside each apartment.
WASHER/DRYER;
Each apartment comes with a coin operated heavy load washer and dryer.  It costs 75 cents to wash and 75 cents to dry, but it actually takes two sets of quarters to get the clothing completely dry, so drying is actually $1.50 - the housing authority comes in about every three months to collect quarters from the machines.
LAWN SPACE;
Each apartment has its own front and rear lawns, mowed by the housing authority.
CARPETS;
yes and no.  Recently the housing authority has begun tearing out carpets as people move out and replacing them with hardwood flooring.  So you may get wall to wall carpets, or hardwood flooring.
CLOSETS;
Each bedroom has a large closet, with the Master Bedroom having a large walk in closet.
TWO BEDROOM FLOOR LAYOUT;
Front door opens up into the living room.  Straight ahead is the door to the large storage room.  The living room area is large, and next to the storage area to the left is the kitchen, which is not a full room, in other words, you won't be setting up a table in it.  There is an opening in the wall in which to serve food through into the dinning room on the other side. So you enter the kitchen from the living room, halfway through there is a large cut out in the wall to serve food through, and you can finish walking through the kitchen, turn the corner and enter the dining room.  Or you can enter the dining room from a doorway in the living room - this is important because what many do who are in need of three bedrooms is to turn that large dining room into a third bedroom and serve their meals in the living room.
At the far end of the kitchen are the washer and dryer.
To the right of the front door is a large storage closet, than a short hallway to the bathroom.  Just past the bathroom is the two doorways to the two bedrooms, with the master bedroom on the right, and the kids bedroom on the left.  The master bedroom also has a doorway leading out into the fenced in area in the rear of the apartment.
Floor layout for three bedroom apartments;  As you enter the front door, you have a large coat closet on the right, folding doors straight ahead to the washer and dryer, and the dining area to the left.  Some use the dining area as a living room area, and some turn it into a forth bedroom.  From the dining area there is a hallway leading past a stairway, past the door to a large storage area, and into the living room area.  You can also enter the kitchen from the living room, as well as from the dining room.  The kitchen is large but not large enough for table or chairs.
A door in the living room leads out into the fenced in play area.
Up the staircase and you have a kids room straight ahead as well as one to the right.  A short hallway has a doorway to the bathroom with the master bedroom at the end of the hallway.  there is also a nice closet with shelves in the hallway as well.
the master bedroom has a large walk in closet.
In all units, only the Master bedroom has a lock, children's rooms have no locking doors.

REPAIRS
Minor repairs get placed on a waiting list and can take some time before they get to them.  Major repairs, such as your stove no longer works or you have a leaking pipe, get fast tracked and quickly -

PETS
pets are now allowed, but there is a sliding scale depending what the pet is or the size of the pet.  They have a yearly added deposit for pets, as well as a monthly or yearly record keeping fee per pet.  the only free pet you can have is a goldfish or other tiny fish, in a glass bowl, that does not have a pump or filter.

PROJECT SETTING;
Located in a country setting only minutes from downtown stores, the roadway is lined with tree's.  This is a small project where each duplex is well spaced from the next.  And despite a number of young kids living in it, this is a fairly quite project.
At one end of the Woodbury Road is Parsons Lobster Pond, which is located next door to the Kebo Valley Golf Course.  The free Island Explorer buses also pass by the end of the road and you can get off one or wave one down from there.
On the other end of the Woodbury Road is West Street Extention, go right and it leads down the hill to West Street and Cottage Street and the food store just around the corner.  Go left and you are about a five minute walk from one of the entrances into Acadia National Park.

A few basic questions answered on Bar Harbor;
YMCA - yes, Park Street
YWCA - yes, Mount Desert Street
ballfields - yes, across from YMCA
skate park - yes, across from YMCA
main food store - Hannaford's on Cottage Street
Gas stations - three, 2 on cottage, 1 on Main street
Library - yes, Jesup Memorial Library on Mount Desert Street;  has a children's room as well as a computer room with free wifi and computer access.
movie houses - yes, 2
Parks - yes, several
Post Office - yes, Cottage Street
Subway - yes
cabs - yes - from the project or  in town fare is $5
public transportation - yes.  Downeast Transportation operates a bus from Hannafords to the city of Ellsworth as well as the city of Bangor, Maine.  $5 to Ellsworth and $9 to Bangor, fare includes round trip.
There is also the free Island Explorer buses which take people to villages all across the island as well as places inside Acadia National Park for free.
COLLEGE - yes, the College of the Atlantic located a short ways away on Eden Street.
Elementary school - yes, a short ways from the project.  A school bus picks students up in the project.
HIGH SCHOOL - yes, but not within walking distance.  Buses pick up students and transport them to MDI high School.
HOSPITAL - yes, Mount Desert Island Hospital, which is not far from the center of town.
CHILDREN'S PUBLIC WADING POOL - yes
PUBLIC PLAYGROUND - yes, next to the YMCA
CONVENIENCE STORES - yes, 2  Both located on Cottage street.  Big Apple and the circle K - Mainway store, which is open 24 hours a day.
IN TOWN LAUNDRY MAT - yes

Left, washer/dryer, coat closet, front doorway - Eden Apartments, Bar Harbor Maine



RENT;
Rent is set up two ways, and which method you chose is up to you.  There is the basic flat rent, where you pay around $980.00 per month (you need to check this out, I know its $900.00 plus, it may be less or more than $980.00) and your income has no ceiling of how much you can earn, and than there's the rent based on   30% of your income.  So someone with a good paying job, you would want to chose the flat rate.  Some one with less income would want to select the  rent based on  30%.

DESPOSIT
I believe they like to have the deposit paid for up front, but they will allow you to make smaller monthly payments if you don't have the money and ask to make payments on it.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
It is required by law, so if you not disabled, you will have to work at least 20 hours per month, or do 8 hours of community service per month.  Most do their community service by doing nursing home visits, helping out at a local church, or volunteering at the local library or hospital.  Even helping out at the YMCA would count.

 Bar Harbor Housing authority


80 Mount Desert Street 
Bar Harbor, Hancock County, Maine 
(207) 288-4770







MAPLE LANE APARTMENTS

MAPLE LANE
NORTHEAST HARBOR, MAINE
phone;    207-288-4770

An Elderly and handicap housing project.
Rent based on 30% of income.

18 apartments
all 18 are one bedroom apartments
housing takes care of clearing snow
on site trash dumpster
on site laundry room
rent includes heat
site has a community room and lounge with tv
within walking distance to stores
each unit has two large closets
house cleaning available for a fee
rides available for chores for a fee
Noon time meals are served on site for a fee. (optional)

Note;  From Mid June through mid October the free Island Explorer buses serve the town of Northeast Harbor with two bus stops, you can ride the free buses to reach Southwest Harbor or Bar Harbor or other locations across the island.

MAPLE LANE APARTMENTS - NORTHEAST HARBOR, MAINE

Currently the village of Northeast Harbor has antique shops, art shops, a few dining places, a pizza place, a mid-size grocery store, a couple mom and pop stores, churches, schools, and a large modern library.  The neighborhood House is also near by where many community events take place.  The ballfields and harbor are also within walking distance, in the summertime the harbor fills with many vessels of various sizes and there are a number of benches placed along walkways overlooking the harbor.  The Sea Coast Missions ship, the Sun Beam also anchors here in the harbor.  Northeast Harbor also has a golf course as well as a yacht club.
Closest major town is Bar Harbor Maine with a good size shop and save food store, two movie houses, a Rite Aid Store, a golf course, many places to eat, and many shops.  MDI Hospital is also located in Bar Harbor.  In Summer and early fall free buses run between Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor throughout the day and evenings seven days a week.

MAPLE LANE APARTMENTS - NORTHEAST HARBOR, MAINE

NORTHEAST HARBOR, MAINE

NORTHEAST HARBOR MAINE YACHT CLUB

FREE ISLAND EXPLORER BUS
Over 30 free buses service Mount Desert Island










BEECH CLIFF APARTMENTS

Hanccock County
Southwest Harbor, Maine

This is a nice project located on a dead end road right in downtown Southwest Harbor, Maine.  The street the project is located on is forest Ave. and the shops and stores are all within a walk away.  Just down the road along Main Street is a small mall, the Fire Department, police station and the very popular Southwest Harbor Library.  Main street also has an ice cream stand, a hardware store, a mom and pop grocery store, a bike rental place and other shops.
The town is also serviced by the free island explorer buses which take passengers to places throughout the island for free, including to the village of Bar Harbor.
The project includes three one bedroom apartments and 18 two bedroom apartments.  This is listed as a family project.






Contact Phone: (207) 288-4770

Online application









BIRCHWOOD APARTMENTS 


Birchwood Lane
Bass Harbor, Maine


Birchwood Apartments is a housing project located in the village of Bass Harbor, Maine.  Bass Harbor is located along route 102 A and is one of the villages that make up Tremont, Maine.  The grounds of the project are well kept up, with the entrance to the project being located directly across from the Bass Harbor Post Office.  Mail, at least for the family units is delivered to post office boxes which you have to rent at the Post Office for a small fee.
All washer and dryers are coin operated and housing comes by about every other month to collect coins.  Machines are located in the large Laundry room, and each family unit has its own coin operated machines.
map of Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine

Parking lots are plowed  by the housing authority and rent includes heat.  Apartments have wall to wall carpets with large closets.  The living rooms in each unit have large picture windows, but none of the family units have back doors, though the large windows do swing open if you need to get out through the back.
Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine - building A on map

There is a store about a twenty minute walk up the road that sells food items, pizza, gas, subs, and such, and about a 30 minute walk up the road is Gott's, another store that sells gas, pizza, subs,  food items and such.
Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine  - building B on map

A much larger Surefine food mart is located in nearby Southwest Harbor and a Shop and Save supermarket is located in Bar Harbor.
Taxi service is available and if you don't have a car the housing does provide a service to get you to the food stores or other appointments for something like $25 per hour.
Birchwood Apartments, Tremont Maine  rear view of building B

The Bass Harbor campground is just up the road along route 102 A, and the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is also nearby, as is the Ship Harbor Nature Trail and Wonderland in Acadia National Park.  Wonderland is an old fire road leading to a beach.
Birchwood Apartments - Bass Harbor Maine - buildings C and D on map

The Seawall picnic area as well as the Seawall Campground in Acadia National Park is a short drive away as well.  The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is just beyond the bass Harbor Campground at the end of the Lighthouse Road.
Birchwood Apartments, Tremont, Bass Harbor Maine - front view building F on map

BIRCHWOOD APARTMENTS FLOOR PLAN - Bass Harbor, Maine
So above you will see the floor plan for a family unit apartment, it is worth pointing out that this is a three bedroom unit and this project only has two three bedroom apartments, so the floor plans of a two bedroom unit will differ some.  The kitchen is not large enough for a table and chairs, which is why the living rooms are so large.  The living rooms for all apartments have really large picture windows with a section of window at each end that cranks in and out, the windows crank easily and lock nicely.  Yes, you see correctly, there is one way into each apartment, and this is true for all apartments here, both family and elderly.  Washer and Dryer coin machines are tucked into a closet as you enter the hallway.  Areas not marked are closets.  If I recall correctly the only room with crank windows is in the living room, all other windows push up and down with screens. This is the floor plan for the apartment in the photo above the floor plan,  at each end is a three bedroom apartment. By the way, this is apartment number 1, and parking is directly across from the front door.


The ocean is a short walk away as is the Swans Island ferry.  About a five minute walk away is the Bass Harbor Baptist Church.  This is a very quiet housing project surrounded by woods and rent is based on 30 percent of your income, which isn't too bad considering it includes heat.  Library's include the Bernard Library, recently expanded and offering computer access and wifi, just down the road in Bernard, and the Southwest Harbor Library, with a computer room and wifi.
Birchwood Apartments - Bass Harbor Maine - rear view building F on map

About the only drawback to living here is if you don't have a car.  Families do live here without a car and rely on one another to get errands done.  From late June to mid October transportation is not a problem as the free Island Explorer buses pass by the project about every half hour.  They will take you into southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor for free and run late into the evening.
Bass Harbor Post Office, Tremont Maine

The island also has a volunteer rider program set up for those who are elderly or handicap - you call their office and they set you up with a free ride to an appointment or shopping trip.  The program is called Island Connections.
Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine - building F on map as seen from building B.

There is a  school nearby as well as an ice cream stand and a couple places to eat out at.
This is called the quiet side of the island for a reason and this is a very quiet project, we lived there for three years.  Winters are long and the local libraries see a lot of traffic with planned events going on throughout the winter months.  This by far was one of the better projects I've lived in over the years.
Map of Bass Harbor Maine

CONTACT;    
Tremont Housing Authority
(managed by Mount Desert Housing authority)
207-288-4770