AUBURN — Retired developer Paul Sasseville stood with his family as they held a ceremony to mark the completion of another 24 market-rate apartments at the Kittyhawk II complex at 7 Tailwind Court in Auburn.

It is the third building in the current phase of the project, each containing 24 units, adding a total of 72 units to Auburn’s housing stock.

A fourth building, with an additional 24 apartments, is on pause for now.

Sasseville and his son, Aaron, who is the director of operations for Sasseville Management, say they are concerned about the current economic conditions in the country, particularly tariffs and how they might affect construction costs. Aaron Sasseville made it clear that they still plan on finishing the last building, but said they are being cautious.

Asked if they are concerned that the number of rental units coming online or in the pipeline could create an oversupply, Aaron Sasseville said it’s certainly a possibility. “It seems unlikely but the same exact thing happened in 1990,” he said. “We went from 6% vacancy to 36% vacancy in a matter of months in 1990.”

Paul Sasseville, who has been building homes and apartments for more than 50 years, said he remembers successful owners lost their properties in the 1980s recession, another reason he wants to be cautious.

The Kittyhawk II building dedicated Thursday just received its letter of occupancy from the city on Wednesday, and signs in the windows of at least five units were marked “reserved.”

The building is a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, and some two-bath units. The apartments range from 800 to 1,167 square feet and are pet friendly.

The Sasseville family owns and manages two other apartment communities — both built in the 1990s.

The Highland Apartments, which they describe as a 144-unit budget-friendly community, is located at 393 Center St. in Auburn, and Kittyhawk Apartments I, a 72-unit complex is at 30 Tailwind Court, adjacent to the Kittyhawk II buildings at 12 and 14 Tailwind Court.

The Kittyhawk II apartments are a significant upgrade from the other two developments, with in-unit washer and dryer, upgraded soundproofing and modern kitchens outfitted with stone countertops and stainless steel appliances.

“It reflects our long-term vision,” Paul Sasseville said in a recent news release, “building high-quality, well-managed housing that strengthens the local community.”

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