Townhouses To Be Built On Location Of Waterville Restaurant

If you have been put in the difficult position of trying to find a new place to live in Central Maine in the last few years, you know all too well there is a lack of affordable housing.

Finding a safe, affordable place to live in the Waterville area is about to get a little easier.

According to the KJ, Arthur & Connie Turmelle, along with their daughter and her husband, are playing to construct three dozen townhouse apartments just off College Avenue in Waterville.

It is hoped that construction of the new apartments will begin this fall, after the old John Martin's Manor restaurant is demolished and the lot is cleared for construction.  The 36 townhouse apartments will be spread across 14 buildings located on the lot left by the restaurant and at an adjacent lot (13 Maple Street).

Designed as townhouses, the development would feature one bedroom and two bedroom units.  The one bedroom units would encompass about 600 square feet.  The two bedroom units would be about 1,000 square feet.  The plan is for the units to be energy efficient,  In addition to the units themselves, the development will have patios, benches, and a shared garden.  It will be built in several phases.

The project's main architect is Justin Morgan, the owner of Maine Design + Build.

They hope to be given final approval within a week.

There are sure to be a few people saddened by the demolition of the long-closed restaurant.  John Martin's Manor closed in 2007 after being open for about three decades.  Several other parties attempted to operate businesses in the building.  Unfortunately, none were successful.

The Turmelles are no strangers to property management.  Over the last 35 years, they have managed several housing units.  In 2015, the City of Waterville awarded the Turmelle family with the Spirit of America Award for their work to improve the Waterville’s North End.