27. Building a Town Center from Scratch in Maine: The Downs Development Story

In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot is joined by Dan Bacon, Development Director at M&R Development, for an in-depth conversation on what it actually takes to build housing at scale in Maine.

Dan brings a rare perspective, having spent more than a decade on the public planning side before moving into private development. He shares how that experience shapes his approach today—especially when it comes to zoning, permitting, community engagement, and reducing risk so projects can move from approval to reality.

The conversation centers on The Downs in Scarborough, a 575-acre planned community that is redefining mixed-use development in Maine. Together, Matt and Dan unpack how large projects get financed, permitted, and phased; why housing density matters; how infrastructure can make or break a deal; and what lessons from The Downs can be applied to smaller towns and infill projects across the state.

They also explore missing middle housing, vertically integrated development, purpose-built town centers, and why predictable zoning—not politics—is one of the most powerful tools for solving Maine’s housing shortage.

Whether you’re a developer, planner, municipal leader, or someone simply trying to understand why housing is so hard to build, this episode offers real-world insight into the challenges—and solutions—facing Maine’s housing future.