BREAKING GROUND
March 18, 2024
On March 14, 2024 the team at STILHILL Developments held a small ground-breaking ceremony at their newest development in Windham, Maine.
This comes after The Windham, ME Planning Board officially approved the transfer and renaming of the formerly approved development of a 60 unit condominium community to be built on the shores of Highland Lake during a board meeting on Tuesday, February 12th, 2024 .
“The Cove at Highland Lake” is Southern Maine’s only 55+ gated community with deeded lakefront access for its owners. Just 10 miles from Downtown Portland and the Portland International Jetport, this nature-centric community aims to both preserve a large portion of its 50+ acres, stretching across both Windham and Falmouth, while also providing much needed housing for Maine’s continually growing and nation’s largest aging population.
The project was originally approved in March of 2021 under the direction of the late John Chase of Chase Custom Homes & Finance. It was slated to break ground in the fall of 2023, however due to the Principal’s passing, it was listed and sold in December 2023. The new developer, STILHILL DEVELOPMENT LLC, says it is passionate about the project, especially its nature and lake preservation elements.
StilHill representatives say they have paid careful attention to the work that was put in during the public comment period under the former ownership to satisfy the MDEP and Highland Lake Association’s concerns about Phosphorus runoff into a Resource Protection Area. Together with Terradyn Consultants, a New Gloucester Civil Engineer firm and Buxton’s Dearborn Brothers Construction, the lake and its new development will benefit from several sophisticated Storm Water Ponds, designed not only to mitigate the impact of new housing, but also, to reduce the pre-existing Phosphorus runoff from busy Route 302. The planned mitigation system is being seen as a win by all.
Lindsay Dearborn of Dearborn Brother’s Construction said, “As a Southern Maine excavation contractor, we are excited to be a part of the Cove at Highland Lake project along with STILHILL and their experienced team. With over 35 years of earthwork experience, working locally on many environmentally sensitive projects, we look forward to seamlessly building this into the lakes region. This development fills the need for housing while preserving the lakeshore environment, and promises to be a wonderful opportunity for new residents to experience all that the Windham community has to offer.”
STILHILL states the timeline will begin ground-breaking this spring, with the first homes slated for completion as early as January 2025.
The attached ranch and townhouse style homes will start in the high $500,000s and range from 1,050 SF up to 2,500+ SF with premium site, finished basements and townhouse-style options. With 5 building styles and several floor plan options to choose from, buyers will be able to truly customize their homes to suit their lifestyle preferences. According to the STILHILL, the 60 unit community will also have access to exclusive amenities such as a clubhouse with gym, kitchen, function space, a deck and patio overlooking resident recreational areas and golf cart parking, nature trails, over 500 feet of deeded waterfront access on Highland Lake, and an association maintained dock with community boating options.
The New England based development group says this will be its first 55+ project in the state of Maine, but that each of its partners has strong ties to the Portland area and Highland Lake — having originally been from here or still having family that lives in the area. Given the lack of inventory across New England, especially in the 55+ demographic, the developers note this community will help increase housing options for the most under-served buyers in the state.
“With the largest aging population in the country, Maine has seen an exponential increase in its 55+ needs in the past decade” said Crystal Chandonnet, a licensed REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty and partner in the Development group. “We know that this demographic loves their state, they love their lakes and the abundant nature right in their backyard, but many desire lower maintenance living options. The Cove at Highland Lake is designed to give them that option that is conveniently located 10 miles from the airport with numerous amenities in Portland and beyond.”
