15. Rebuilding Maine: Jason Levesque on Housing, Zoning, and the Future of Our Communities

In this episode of Housing Matters, Matt Pouliot sits down with Jason Levesque—former Mayor of Auburn, Army veteran, entrepreneur, and now a real estate developer leading one of the largest market-rate housing projects in Central Maine.

Jason shares his journey from founding Argo Marketing to transforming Lewiston’s downtown through Aegean Development. They talk candidly about zoning reform, planning board dysfunction, local vs. state control, and why Maine desperately needs more people—and more places for them to live.

From military leadership lessons to strategies for revitalizing Maine's urban cores, this episode is packed with insight, passion, and real-world perspective on what it’s going to take to solve the housing crisis.

🎙️ Topics covered:

• The myth of local control

• How Auburn streamlined development

• Planning boards as barriers

• The need for market-rate housing

• What Lewiston is getting right

• Lessons from Montana, Europe, and beyond

Whether you’re a policymaker, builder, investor, or just someone trying to make sense of the housing conversation—this episode is for you.