BETHEL — With every step of the process, redevelopment of the Gehring House is bringing this historic building back to serve the community as housing for people working in the community. The Northern Forest Center, which owns the property and has undertaken the $5.9-million historic renovation, has launched a community campaign to raise the final funds needed to complete the project.

The project combines a trio of important goals: creating housing to serve Bethel’s workers and families; using regional wood products and trade professionals as much as possible to support western Maine’s economy; and restoring a historically important landmark. The Center is looking to the community to help raise $352,000 for the project, which will unlock a $250,000 challenge grant and complete the necessary fundraising. “This is a project for the community, and we need the community’s support to complete it,” said Robin Zinchuk, a long-time Bethel community leader and champion of the Gehring House project. “Your donation today could help us unlock that final grant and make these new homes for local workers and families a reality.”

“This is a critical moment,” said Center President Rob Riley. “We’ve secured major grants, historic tax credits, and financing capital from our Northern Forest Fund to cover most of the project cost, but community contributions are key. Every donation not only helps us financially but also demonstrates the strength of local support for this project.”

The Betterment Fund and the William Bingham Foundation, which both originated with philanthropists from Bethel, have provided early leadership support, along with several other foundations and individuals. Readers are invited to learn more about the project or make a donation at https://nfcenter.org/Bethel.

The renovation can be viewed from outside the temporary construction fence at the end of Broad Street. During construction, pedestrians can access the Bingham Trail, maintained by Inland Woods + Trails, by following signs outside the fencing. Access to the trail will remain after construction is complete.

Serving Bethel Area Workers and Families
“Our mission is to help build vibrant communities,” said Amy Scott, program manager for the Center. “Having quality year-round rental housing available for teachers and trades people and shopkeepers and hospitality workers is a key component of retaining and attracting residents.”

The project will create homes for residents in nine apartments ranging in size from 2 bedrooms to a studio. The apartments will have year-long leases.

“I’ve heard a few rumors going around that just are not true,” said Zinchuk. “The apartments will not be publicly subsidized housing, and no one is living in the building yet.”

The Center uses several types of information to set rental rates. “Our projects are designed to create housing for middle-income workers in the community,” said Scott. “We use the Area Median Income (AMI) to set a baseline, then consider other factors like the wages paid by area employers – particularly in healthcare, education, hospitality, and manufacturing – to determine rental rates.”

Scott said the apartments are expected to come available in mid-2025, pending successful completion of fundraising for the project. The Center will publicize rental information and the application process at a later date.

Using Local Resources & Talent
The Center is using wood products from the region and local talent to make sure the project benefits the people and economy of western Maine as much as possible.

“We use a ‘wood first’ approach in our building renovations,” said Scott. “We’re salvaging and restoring as much of the original wood content as we can, and we’re adding new wood products such as wood-based insulation from TimberHP in Madison, Maine, and a wood pellet boiler from Maine Energy Systems in Bethel. All our new framing lumber is from Hancock Lumber. Where we had to replace siding, we’ve used pine clapboards from Hancock Lumber’s mill in Bethel.”

Contractors have repaired and replaced some of the building’s sills, painted the exterior, completed plumbing and wiring, and have begun insulating. On the grounds, contractors have fixed the perimeter drainage, and built the walkways, parking area, and the walking path behind the building.

Sheetrocking will start next, but only on new interior walls because the redevelopment of the Gehring House is a historic renovation. Any existing walls that need fixing will be repaired with plaster and lathe consistent with the original construction.

The Center’s general contractor, Woodhull Construction, has hired local talent to throughout the project.

Homegrown talent from Bethel includes Michael Pelletier, who owns Clean Cut Painting, which is doing both the interior and exterior painting; Jeremy Fredette who owns Western Maine Roofing; Robie Wentworth of Wentworth Woodworking, which is making kitchen cabinetry and some matching built-ins; and Cross Excavation, founded by Jack Cross and now owned by Doug Jones. “I’m very excited to be contributing to this project,” said Robie Wentworth, who moved to Bethel when he was in middle school. “The original millwork in the building is amazing, and it’s great to see this historical building transformed into apartments. Right now, it’s almost impossible for working people to find housing they can afford to buy or rent here.”

From around the region, Roger Arsenault owns Community Energy of Rumford, which is installing all the plumbing, heating and HVAC systems; and Michael Carleton heads family-owned IEC, based in Strong, and is installing all the electrical systems.

The Center purchased the Gehring House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, in December 2022 to restore the building and reposition it as vital housing for the community. The Gehring House and the renovation will comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.

The Northern Forest Center is an innovation and investment partner serving the Northern Forest of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The Gehring House redevelopment project complements the Center’s ongoing work in the western Maine region, including projects that improve recreation access and resources, provide workforce training, assist wood products and tourism-related businesses, advance sustainable tourism, develop Community Forests, expand broadband service, and build non-profit capacity.