FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted unanimously to accept a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its 82 High Street housing project.

The vote followed a public hearing on funding for the third phase of the $1.54 million project on Sawtelle Lane. 

Replacing three apartment units with modular buildings is on track for completion this year, Janet Smith, chairwoman of the 82 High Street board of directors, said.

Although the town, as administrator of the grant, is invited to move forward in the application process, funding is still contingent upon receipt of federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Deborah Johnson, director of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, wrote in a letter to Town Manager Richard Davis.

Planning and administrative tasks on the project can begin but no funds can be spent yet, she wrote.

Voters agreed earlier this year for the town to serve as administrator of the grant.

In the third phase at 82 High Street, three aging apartment buildings will be razed and replaced with three modular buildings containing four apartments each.

When the intended builder Keiser Homes of Oxford went out of business in May, the 82 High Street board continued working with Cousineau Inc. to find another modular builder.

A larger company, Kent Homes of Atlantic Canada, fast-tracked the project and plans to construct the three modular apartment buildings in time for installation by November, Smith told the board.

Selectmen also unanimously voted to accept a Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee to serve for the duration of the 82 High Street project.

The committee includes Janet Smith, Ryan Goding, Erick Apland, Caitlin Carson-Gabriel, Rachel Jackson-Hodsdon, Roger Condit and Willena Jennings, representing 82 High Street. Also included is Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser, who has worked with the 82 High Street board to develop the project and secure funding.

The project received a $500,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank and a $540,000 loan from Franklin Savings Bank earlier this year.

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