LEWISTON — Lewiston Housing received approvals this week for three housing projects, including a five-story, 72-unit apartment complex with ground floor retail space at 61 Ash St.

The project, planned in two phases, will be developed on the corner of Ash and Bates streets, which is a surface parking lot in front of the former Sun Journal distribution center.

Officials from Lewiston Housing and those working on the project see the Ash Street development as a continuation of the Choice Neighborhoods initiative, with plans showing pedestrian connections to the 104-unit DeWitt development planned between 40-60 Pine St.

Mike Tadema-Wielandt, an engineer with Terradyn Consultants who designed the project, said the group held a discussion with residents and stakeholders this past winter regarding the project. He said it will continue a “rebuilding” of the area that at one time featured much more housing.

He said it meets the goals of the downtown transformation plan that informed the Choice Neighborhoods projects by helping to create a more walkable, bikeable downtown with a mix of housing and commercial spaces for new businesses.

Depending on financing, the first phase would be 44 units, with the second phase an additional 28. In all, there would be three retail spaces ranging from 1,500 to 3,700 square feet, with the building also featuring a community room and bike room.

The 0.7-acre parcel would have nine parking spaces for handicap-accessibility and the remaining parking will be provided in the Oak Street parking garage and public parking lot.

The board voted 6-1 to approve the project Monday, with board member Michael Marcotte the lone vote against. Marcotte said his concern was over the waivers requested by Lewiston Housing surrounding certain amenities required of developments. The project was granted a waiver for providing green space due to the nearby Kennedy Park.

For Lewiston Housing, Monday’s meeting marked a significant step at a time when the housing authority already has several projects in the pipeline. Also approved Monday were plans to convert the Ramada Hotel into a senior living complex, and a second phase of senior housing at the former Martel School.

“We are very excited and grateful for the Planning Board approvals,” said Chris Kilmurry, executive director of Lewiston Housing. “All three presentations and corresponding conversations were extremely positive. It takes a lot of work and resources to bring one, let alone three, projects to this point, so it feels really encouraging to be on the same page with the Planning Board and city staff.”

Kilmurry said that while housing pressures have eased slightly in some U.S. markets, “we are still in full crisis mode in Maine and Lewiston in particular, so every unit counts.”

All three of the projects approved are seeking financing in the form of 9% low-income housing tax credits and additional subsidy from MaineHousing. Kilmurry said if the Ash Street application is successful in the upcoming round of funding, construction could potentially begin in mid-to-late 2025, and projects of this size range have an approximate construction window of 12-16 months.

According to a Planning Board memo, Lewiston Housing will also apply for 4% low-income housing tax credits and additional subsidy from MaineHousing in the upcoming funding round, which would fund Phase 2 of the project.

As the statewide housing shortage has driven up housing prices, Lewiston Housing has continually reported very long waiting lists for available apartments. Lewiston Housing is also the city’s partner — along with Avesta Housing — on the Choice Neighborhoods developments of Wedgewood and DeWitt. The 82 units in nine buildings, including the historic Wedgewood house, are slated to be complete this fall.

But there are also some market-rate developments in the Lewiston development pipeline as well, including the massive Continental Mill redevelopment, Professional Building renovation, a Gendron project off Farwell Street, and a pair of mixed-use developments on Middle and Lowell streets.

The Picker House Lofts, under construction at the center of the Continental Mill site, will feature both market-rate and income-restricted units.