Steven Bushey, senior associate for Gorrill Palmer of South Portland, explains Wednesday the plans for a senior housing project at 105 Hancock St. to the Rumford Planning Board. Board member Jon Starr, left, and Chairman Ken MacFawn listen. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times

RUMFORD — Plans are underway for constructing three housing projects and a small motel with cabins.

The Planning Board approved a preapplication for a senior housing project at 105 Hancock St. at the intersection of Rumford Avenue. It’s where three apartment buildings burned Feb. 9, 2020.

Laura Reading, director of affordable housing with Developers Collaborative of Portland, said the proposed 4½-story building will have 33 one-bedroom units for senior housing and an elevator. The head of household must be at least 55 years old.

There will be 30 parking spaces, including at least four handicap spaces.

Reading said Developers Collaborative owns all their developments, and there will be a professional property manager at the Rumford location. If all goes well, construction could begin next summer.

“A pretty exciting add for the town,” Planning Board Chairman Kenneth MacFawn said.

A public hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3 in the conference room downstairs by the police station. Developers Collaborative will present its final application packet at the Planning Board meeting that follows. A final vote could be held afterward.

“We have a few senior housing complexes, but we have a pretty large senior population, too,” Town Manager Stacy Carter said. “Having options is always a good thing.”

Developer Kara Wilbur is proposing to build 18 housing units for low-income people at the former Linnell Motel at 986 Prospect Ave. Carter said Wilbur and the town have a purchase agreement on the 4.77 acres.

“She has six months to do a geo-technical study and make sure the site is buildable…,” he said.

Another developer is working with the owner of the old Rumford Center School on state Route 5 to create a small motel and two small cabins behind it.

“We have business opportunities and they’re going to be looking for employees, so we hope some of this will be workforce housing,” Carter said.

“We find that housing rental rates are going up, just like they are across the state, so this gives us more supply and more competition,” he said.

A construction project already under way is the community-based outpatient clinic at 5 Railroad St. The one-story facility by the VA Maine Healthcare System will replace the clinic at 431 Franklin St.

The clinic will include primary care, mental health, blood draw and virtual care services. Home-based primary care will also be based at the clinic, Jonathan Barczyk, public affairs specialist with VA Maine Healthcare System, said.

In May, the Best Western Plus Rumford Falls hotel opened at 50 Prospect Ave. Overlooking Pennacook Falls, it has 51 guest rooms an 12 deluxe suites. It’s owned Pennacook Falls Investments.