WESTBROOK – Nearly a year ago, Westbrook Housing opened three condos on Main Street, right in downtown Westbrook, each with an innovative living area and retail space, marketed to artisans who wanted a place to live, work and sell their wares.

But that was in January. Since then, an anemic housing market and a less-than-enthusiastic response from area artists have forced Westbrook Housing to change its focus – and lower its asking price – to get some takers, and so far the plan seems to finally be working.

“The artist piece per se did not work out the way we wanted,” said John Gallagher, the group’s executive director.

Gallagher said the condos originally went on the market for $169,000, but since then the group has reduced the rates to between $135,000-$149,000. Michelle Philbrook, a realtor representing Westbrook Housing, confirmed this week that two of the three units are under contract but have not yet closed.

Scott MacLean bought the third, and moved in two weeks ago. He said he moved to Westbrook from Portland, in part to find less expensive housing, but also because he liked the idea of living in the upper half, and renting out the lower half to a local business.

“I just like what Westbrook Housing is doing there,” he said.

MacLean said he put a sign in the window advertising the space for lease on Sunday, and already he has had a flood of calls. He is not, however, marketing the space strictly to artists, and said he is not an artist himself.

Area artists said the small size of the retail space, a little over 200 square feet, was a big turn-off, as was the commitment that comes with buying when compared to renting.

Jeremy Greene, owner of The Art Guru art supply store in Gorham, said the idea was a nice one, and resembled similar properties in Portland that are popular with local artists there. But one key difference, Greene said, is that the Portland properties are rentals, not for sale.

“Artists don’t have a lot of money,” he said.

Not only that, he said, but the permanence of buying is unappealing to artists.

“It’s a huge commitment,” he said. “Artists are free-spirited.”

Janet Edmonds Curran, owner of Paper Moon, a craft store on Main Street just blocks away from the condos, said this week that the other problem is the space, or lack thereof, available for artists to display things for sale.

“The retail space is so small,” she said. “The more room you have, the more things you can put in it, and the more things you can sell.”

Despite the lack of interest in artists buying the space, Gallagher said he hopes artists will still consider renting the retail area from the tenants above. An artist looking to open a craft booth at a local fair can pay as much as $175, he said, which could possibly pay a month’s rent at the retail spaces.

“It’s a great location and a great window space,” he said. “To me, it’s a no-brainer, but hopefully other people see it that way.”

Until recently, Westbrook Housing had trouble raising interest
in the group’s year-old condos on Main Street. When a plan to
attract artists to the space did not pan out, the group cut the
price and looked for other buyers. (Staff photo by Sean Murphy)