Tuesday, October 25, 2016

WINDSOR HEIGHTS 1 & 2 - Randolph, Maine

WINDSOR HEIGHTS 1 & 2
Randolph, Maine
(207) 582-1888

I have to say from the start I have never met any nicer land lord's than the people who oversee this project.  You will never have a better landlord, period.  The project is broken up into two or three sections, each section does a loop along paved walkways.  The walls are heavily insulated so unless someone is killing someone next door, you don't even notice someone is living on the other side of the wall.  Apartments are wall to wall except for bathrooms and kitchen, which are tiled.  Any repairs that you need done are addressed usually within 24 hours or less.  I believe heat is included in the rent.  Closets are large and there is a nice closet in the hallway, as well as a coat closet by the front door and another closet between the living room and kitchen.
Each apartment is also assigned one storage bin - storage bins are located in one of the basements, and they are really large and can hold a number of bikes, car tires and much more.  You need to place your own lock on your storage bin.


Windsor Heights 1 apartments, Randolph, Maine

Of all the places I've lived, I think this project has more window space than any other.  One entire wall in the kitchen is heavy thick glass sliding doors which lead out behind the apartment.  Large glass windows cover another wall in the kitchen, right into the living room.  We usually kept the windows curtains opened during the day to give the apartment a nice airy feel, closing them at night.  There is enough room in the kitchen for a large dining table and chairs with plenty of space to work in the kitchen.
Mail does not come directly to your apartment, instead it is delivered to locked boxes in the nearby community room.  What's the community room?  Its a large room with a large fireplace and chairs where people can sat around and relax, get to meet others in the project, and people have held meetings and events in the community room as well.  The mail boxes are along one wall in the community room.  A doorway leads into a large laundry room with coin washer and dryers.
When we lived there for three years there was a common practice some toom part in where food items or even a box or bag full of food were placed on the community table with a note - free if you can use it.  It was clear a number of people living there did this and it really helped those who were having a hard time making ends meet - all housing projects should do this as a neighbor helping neighbor thing.

Above is a floor plan for a two bedroom end apartment.  Nearly one wall in the kitchen is huge sliding glass doors which are very nice and come with a set of large drapes. 

The project is surrounded by woods and has a nice country feel to it because it is located in the country.  In fact, if anything, that is the only drawback to living there.  I do a lot of walking, so the twenty minute walk down the hill to the super market was never a problem, not even in winter, but for some that can be a long walk one way, coming back is uphill so takes even longer.  I usually skipped the Randolph food market and headed across the bridge into Gardiner where they had a much larger food store, a large library, and many ships.  That was about a forty minute walk one way.  and when we lived there no buses serviced the project, you needed to drive, walk or take a cab into Gardiner to catch the bus to Augusta.  For me this was too far into the country and too far from where I live now, by the ocean.  But if you have a car, and enjoy a country setting than you won't find a better location.

Their office;

C B Mattson
Windsor Heights 1 & 2
224 Maine Ave,
Farmingdale, ME 04344

(207) 582-1888

Glenridge Garden Apartments - Augusta, Maine

(888) 311-9296

 The staff that run the project have always been top notch and any repairs that need to be done are addressed usually within a day or less.  When we lived there people were encouraged to plant flower gardens in front and behind their apartments.
The children's bedrooms are pretty good size, and the adult master bedroom is very large with a large closet.  Windows overlook the parking lot, while kids bedrooms overlook the back lawns and playgrounds.

They have a large number of two bedrooms apartments.  Than there are the three bedroom apartments, when we moved in we were told they had two types of three bedroom units, one had one bathroom upstairs, and the second type was a little larger and had a bathroom upstairs and downstairs.
They accept section 8 vouchers and rent is based on 30 percent of your income if you qualify.  Heat is also included in the price of the rent, but not the lights.  Besides the large closets in the bedrooms, the downstairs hallway has a large closet with two large sliding doors where you can store stuff like bikes, toys or whatever  during the winter months.

The project is about a twenty minute walk from one of the city's boat landings that also has a nice playground for kids, and a path leads through the woods to fort Western and nearby Water Street.  And on Sundays a number of churches in the city have buses that pick people up in the project and drop them back off,  which is really nice if your handicap or elderly, or don't have a car.  A Rite Aid store is at the entrance to the project and a large shop and save food store is within walking distance. 
One street over is the City's ball fields with soccer, baseball and softball fields as well as a horse shoe pit.  Bordering the ball fields is the Viles Arboretum  with over 6 miles of marked hiking trails, fields and ponds.

You are not far from the stores or fast food places if you have a car, or take a cab.  K Mart is about an hour's walk away, and McDonald's is about a thirty minute  walk away.  There are also several churches 15 to 20 minutes walk away.  The closest store is the Rite aid store as you enter the project.
This project is open to all, elderly, handicap, and families and I highly recommend it.


Glenridge Gardens

82 Glenridge Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (888) 311-9296

Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat: By Appointment
Sun: Closed

Saturday, October 22, 2016

BIRCHWOOD APARTMENTS, TREMONT, BASS HARBOR MAINE

PUBLIC HOUSING IN MAINE

SETON VILLAGE-WATERVILLE   PINE GROVE-SEARSPORT   MEADOW VIEW-ELLSWORTH   EDEN APT.-BAR HARBOR   MARINER WOODS-SEARSPORT 






BIRCHWOOD APARTMENTS REVIEW

Birchwood Apartments is a housing project located in the village of Bass Harbor, Maine.  Bass Harbor is located along route 102 A and is one of the villages that make up Tremont, Maine.  The grounds of the project are well kept up, with the entrance to the project being located directly across from the Bass Harbor Post Office.  Mail, at least for the family units is delivered to post office boxes which you have to rent at the Post Office for a small fee.
All washer and dryers are coin operated and housing comes by about every other month to collect coins.  Machines are located in the large Laundry room, and each family unit has its own coin operated machines.
map of Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine

Parking lots are plowed  by the housing authority and rent includes heat.  Apartments have wall to wall carpets with large closets.  The living rooms in each unit have large picture windows, but none of the family units have back doors, though the large windows do swing open if you need to get out through the back.
Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine - building A on map

There is a store about a twenty minute walk up the road that sells food items, pizza, gas, subs, and such, and about a 30 minute walk up the road is Gott's, another store that sells gas, pizza, subs,  food items and such.
Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine  - building B on map

A much larger Surefine food mart is located in nearby Southwest Harbor and a Shop and Save supermarket is located in Bar Harbor.
Taxi service is available and if you don't have a car the housing does provide a service to get you to the food stores or other appointments for something like $25 per hour.
Birchwood Apartments, Tremont Maine  rear view of building B

The Bass Harbor campground is just up the road along route 102 A, and the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is also nearby, as is the Ship Harbor Nature Trail and Wonderland in Acadia National Park.  Wonderland is an old fire road leading to a beach.
Birchwood Apartments - Bass Harbor Maine - buildings C and D on map

The Seawall picnic area as well as the Seawall Campground in Acadia National Park is a short drive away as well.  The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is just beyond the bass Harbor Campground at the end of the Lighthouse Road.
Birchwood Apartments, Tremont, Bass Harbor Maine - front view building F on map

BIRCHWOOD APARTMENTS FLOOR PLAN - Bass Harbor, Maine
So above you will see the floor plan for a family unit apartment, it is worth pointing out that this is a three bedroom unit and this project only has two three bedroom apartments, so the floor plans of a two bedroom unit will differ some.  The kitchen is not large enough for a table and chairs, which is why the living rooms are so large.  The living rooms for all apartments have really large picture windows with a section of window at each end that cranks in and out, the windows crank easily and lock nicely.  Yes, you see correctly, there is one way into each apartment, and this is true for all apartments here, both family and elderly.  Washer and Dryer coin machines are tucked into a closet as you enter the hallway.  Areas not marked are closets.  If I recall correctly the only room with crank windows is in the living room, all other windows push up and down with screens. This is the floor plan for the apartment in the photo above the floor plan,  at each end is a three bedroom apartment. By the way, this is apartment number 1, and parking is directly across from the front door.


The ocean is a short walk away as is the Swans Island ferry.  About a five minute walk away is the Bass Harbor Baptist Church.  This is a very quiet housing project surrounded by woods and rent is based on 30 percent of your income, which isn't too bad considering it includes heat.  Library's include the Bernard Library, recently expanded and offering computer access and wifi, just down the road in Bernard, and the Southwest Harbor Library, with a computer room and wifi.
Birchwood Apartments - Bass Harbor Maine - rear view building F on map

About the only drawback to living here is if you don't have a car.  Families do live here without a car and rely on one another to get errands done.  From late June to mid October transportation is not a problem as the free Island Explorer buses pass by the project about every half hour.  They will take you into southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor for free and run late into the evening.
Bass Harbor Post Office, Tremont Maine

The island also has a volunteer rider program set up for those who are elderly or handicap - you call their office and they set you up with a free ride to an appointment or shopping trip.  The program is called Island Connections.
Birchwood Apartments, Bass Harbor Maine - building F on map as seen from building B.

There is a  school nearby as well as an ice cream stand and a couple places to eat out at. 
This is called the quiet side of the island for a reason and this is a very quiet project, we lived there for three years.  Winters are long and the local libraries see a lot of traffic with planned events going on throughout the winter months.  This by far was one of the better projects I've lived in over the years.
Map of Bass Harbor Maine

Swans Island Ferry - Bass Harbor Maine

CONTACT;

207-288-4770




Bass Harbor, Tremont Maine


Bass Harbor Ferry, Tremont Maine


Bass Harbor Village - Tremont, Maine


Bass Harbor Lighthouse - Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor Maine

Project managed by the Bar Harbor Housing authority

Tremont Housing Authority
Birchwood Lane
Bass Harbor, Hancock County, ME

207-288-4770