The Blue Hill Peninsula is facing housing challenges that affect its workforce, senior citizens, low-income populations, and its ability to attract new families and businesses. Through Maine Office of Community Affairs’ Housing Opportunity Program, Hancock County Planning Commission has received funding to create a collaborative network focused on developing sustainable housing solutions that meet the diverse needs of the Blue Hill Peninsula while preserving the region’s unique character and supporting its economic growth.
The Blue Hill Peninsula Regional Housing Group meets monthly to discuss challenges, share best practices, and collaborate on initiatives to increase housing options on the Peninsula. This forum serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, coordinating efforts, and identifying partnership opportunities.
Please reach out to Greg Piduch at gpiduch@hcpcme.org if you have questions, feedback, or possible topics of discussion.
Upcoming Meetings
Meeting #11: TBD
- When: October 2026, TBD
- Link to meeting
Past Meetings
Meeting #1: Kick-Off Meeting
Date: October 6, 2025, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, attendees introduced themselves, HCPC provided an overview of their current housing projects in the region and across the county, and attendees discussed meeting formats, topics, attendees to invite, and potential speakers.
Meeting #2: RFP Process and Projects Overview
Date: November 10, 2025, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, an update on the RFP process for three housing-related projects and an overview of each project was provided. Conversation about community involvement in these projects and Nesterly’s homesharing service followed.
Meeting #3: Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority
Date: January 28, 2026 at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, Tuck O’Brien, Executive Director and Jennifer Litteral, Operations Manager of the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority presented on the work that the organization does and services offered to municipalities, and answered attendee questions.
Meeting #4: Statewide Building Permit Collection Effort & ADU Resources
Date: February 2, 2026, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, HCPC GIS Specialist Addison Gruber informed attendees about the state’s building permit data collection effort and how HCPC can assist, and HCPC Regional Planner Olivia Jolley presented different ADU programs and development efforts happening throughout the state.
- Link to recording
- Link to meeting notes
- Slides
Meeting #5: Great Falls Construction
Date: March 2, 2026, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, Joey Smith and Julie Curran at Great Falls Construction, based in Gorham, talk about the company’s development portfolio, share project examples and answer attendee questions.
- Link to recording
- Link to meeting notes
- Slides
Meeting #6: Erin Aguayo and Shaun Gilpin, Vermont Housing Improvement Program
Date: April 6, 2026, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, Erin Aguayo, Grants Management Specialist and Shaun Gilpin, Housing Division Director with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development joined to talk about the Vermont Housing Improvement Program 2.0, the different opportunities it offers to homeowners and developers, and answered attendee questions.
Meeting #7: Peter Buchsbaum, Cranberry Isles Realty Trust
Date: May 4, 2026, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, Peter Buchsbaum, a member of the Board of Directors for Cranberry Isles Realty Trust, joined us for a Q&A to discuss how and why CIRT has been successful in providing homes for island residents.
- Link to recording
- Link to meeting notes
- Slides
Meeting #8: Updates from CommunityScale
Date: June 1, 2026, at 10 AM EST
Brief Description: At this meeting, Kate Burch, Senior Planner at CommunityScale, provided an update on the projects the firm is doing for towns on the Peninsula, including an overview of data from the housing assessment it is putting together. Following, attendees had an open discussion on various housing needs and the strategies and steps required to start addressing them
Meeting #9: HomePort Site Walkthrough
Date: August 24, 2026, at 8 AM EST
Brief Description: For this month’s housing forum meeting we visited and toured HomePort, the former nursing home facility in Deer Isle that is being converted into 23 apartments for senior and essential workers. This video provides a snapshot of the renovation process and a look inside a completed unit. Units hope to be made available for move-in by the end of 2026. Thank you to all that attended!
Meeting #10: Housing Initatives on the Peninsula – Blue Hill Peninsula Forward
Date: September 18, 2026, at 9 AM EST
Brief Description: This month’s forum meeting was a collaboration with Blue Hill Peninsula Forward and highlighted the ongoing housing initiatives in Deer Isle and Stonington as well as updates about projects in Castine and the regional work being done by HCPC and Island Institute. Speakers included:
- Kathleen Billings, Stonington Town Manager and HomePort board member
- Dan DeBord, Deer Isle-Stonington Housing Manager
- Jim Fisher, Deer Isle Town Manager
- Sam Harrington, Island Workforce Housing
- Gabe Palmer, Maine Municipal Fellow, Castine
- Greg Piduch, Hancock County Planning Commission
- Stu Kestenbaum, Housing Workforce Chair
- Holly Werner, Maine Service Fellow for Housing
- Link to recording
Resources
Meeting #6: Erin Aguayo and Shaun Gilpin, Vermont Housing Improvement Program
- Vermont Housing Improvement Program – the home page for VHIP 2.0, including information on the type of projects funding can be used for.
- VHIP Dashboard – data on the amount of funds granted, the number of units funded, years of affordability ensured, and other metrics from each iteration of the VHIP program.
- VHIP 2.0 Resource Guide – a guide for property owners on how to use the program
- Vermont Homes For All Initiative – information and links about the state’s effort to empower small-scale development, including a ‘Design & Do’ Toolkit, small-scale developer training, and a catalog of pre-permitted home designs.
- NeighborWorks America – a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks operates the five local Homeownership Centers that help facilitate VHIP programs.
Meeting #8: Updates from CommunityScale
- HOOP Project Website – the project website that CommunityScale has created for their housing work on the Peninsula.
- Penobscot Bay Press news article – the article about the 10-unit housing project on Pleasant St. in Blue Hill that was referenced in the meeting.
- CAAN Housing – website of the builder creating housing units referenced in the meeting.