The historic Wedgewood house at 101 Pine St., shown Wednesday in downtown Lewiston, will be renovated as part of the 74-unit first phase of the Choice Neighborhoods redevelopment. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — The City Council unanimously approved the first reading of a contract zone Tuesday for a 74-unit downtown housing development, the first under the ambitious Choice Neighborhoods redevelopment plan.

If the second reading is approved June 7, developers will move ahead with final design work, and seek a site plan review from the Planning Board late this summer or early fall, according to Misty Parker, economic development manager.

Parker said the goal is to begin construction this winter.

City staff and officials from Avesta Housing, the developer, said the contract zone will allow the project to work with the unique parcel to create a “model block” of new housing and shared community spaces.

A concept from Avesta Housing shows the proposed layout of the 74-unit first phase of the Choice Neighborhoods project in downtown Lewiston. City of Lewiston drawing

It will allow the development to have multiple primary structures on a single parcel, reducing setback restrictions and allowing shared parking. The contract zone also asks for an increase in density and reduction of the required off-street parking.

The Wedgewood development, also known as “Site 2” of the Choice Neighborhoods plan, proposes seven new multifamily buildings along with the renovation of the Wedgewood house, a former funeral home at 101 Pine St. The overall development site includes 13 parcels between Pine, Pierce and Bartlett streets.

Staff said all the contract zone requests are supported by Lewiston’s Comprehensive Plan and the “Growing Our Tree Streets” transformation plan, which led to Lewiston receiving the $30 million federal grant. The Planning Board voted 5-1 to send a positive recommendation to the council May 9, with Planning Board member Michael Marcotte voting against.

According to a memo from Avesta, the contract zone is intended to help the city achieve the vision of the transformation plan, “including focusing development in areas identified for growth, investing in the downtown, increasing the quality of affordable housing, and promoting mixed-income developments.”

Catherine Elliot, development officer for Avesta Housing, presented the site layout to the council Tuesday.

In response to questions about the reduced parking requirements, Elliot said it mirrors the Comprehensive Plan, which calls for a more thoughtful approach to parking and eliminating unneeded surface parking. She said the proposed parking reflects the anticipated demand based on studies and prior projects.

Many people are wondering what will become of the iconic figures in the cupola windows at the Wedgewood house on the corner of Pine and Pierce Streets in Lewiston. It is being renovated as part of the Choice Neighborhoods project. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

As of 2017, the memo said, paved surface parking accounted for 23% of the downtown area.

Councilor Robert McCarthy said, “It seems like we’re changing the rules to fit the project instead of the project fitting the rules.”

The council ultimately voted unanimously to approve the contract zone in a first reading.

On Wednesday, the mayor’s ad hoc committee on economic development will host a discussion about the Choice Neighborhoods project at the Lewiston Public Library. The 5:30 p.m. event will feature panelists representing the three partners on the initiative: the city of Lewiston, the Lewiston Housing Authority, and Avesta Housing.

Mayor Carl Sheline said the forum will give residents an update on the initiative, which he said from an economic development standpoint, will be a “game changer.” Officials have said the $30 million federal grant is expected to leverage a total of $90-$100 million in investment, and they are already starting to see signs of momentum.

The city’s transformation plan also calls for more community services like job training and child care.

City Administrator Heather Hunter said Tuesday that Promise Early Education has opened a new program in the neighborhood with 50 new child care spots. A community food center is in the works.

Lewiston is the smallest city to ever receive such a grant.

“If larger cities can see transformation in their areas, imagine what the transformation could be here,” Hunter said.

“The ripple effects will be huge,” Sheline said.

A concept from Avesta Housing shows the proposed layout of the 74-unit first phase of the Choice Neighborhoods project in downtown Lewiston. City of Lewiston drawing