MEREDA Matters

MEREDA
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MEREDA Matters

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall listening in on a conversation between Maine’s real estate industry leaders? You’re in luck - MEREDA now has a podcast: MEREDA Matters! This is not your typical Q&A session. This is a podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. It’s dynamic and we don’t know where each conversation will go, but you’re sure to learn something new each episode. MEREDA Matters gives you insider conversations that highlight the people, stories, and relationships behind the real estate and development deals in Maine. Sponsored by: Bangor Savings Bank | Clark Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company

  1. A Conversation with Josh Levy of Waterstone Properties

    OCT 8

    A Conversation with Josh Levy of Waterstone Properties

    Josh Levy, Principal & Co-Founder of Waterstone Properties, sits down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for the fourth episode in the second season of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. Levy, who is behind the 100 acre Rock Row project in Westbrook, talks about growing up in Cape Cod and having an early passion for landscaping and obsession for retail development. He goes on to discuss the unique challenge and opportunity of developing Rock Row, a former quarry site, and his extensive planning process behind his vision for the site. As part of that process, Levy and his team went on a research and discovery tour of 27 cities, conducted community interviews to find out what people wanted, and built partnerships with 36 regional and local organizations. Richards and Levy go on to discuss the importance of mentors in his career and his passion for mentoring others. The conversation also includes an overview of the multi-phase project, which has a healthcare campus opening in January 2025 and will also include housing, retail, dining, entertainment, and outdoor recreation. Who does Josh love to nerd-out on? Listen to the episode to find out!

    45 min
  2. A Legislative Update with Jason Howe and Matt Pouliot

    SEP 9

    A Legislative Update with Jason Howe and Matt Pouliot

    Jason Howe, an attorney at Preti Flaherty and Co-Chair of MEREDA’s Public Policy Committee, and Matt Pouliot, a realtor and developer at Pouliot Real Estate and Maine Senator, sit down with Elizabeth Frazier, an attorney and government relations’ advocate at Pierce Atwood, for the third episode in the second season of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. The group provides an exciting and informative discussion on some achievements in Augusta for real estate development laws. Pouliot, who served in Augusta for 12 years and was on the Joint Select Committee on Housing, shares about LD337, a bill the Joint Select Committee recently passed that opens up more opportunities for manufactured housing, while still allowing for local control around design standards. The group goes on to discuss the need for creativity in housing creation and Howe provides an overview of another bill, LD1289, which facilitates the transfer of assets and will support more property development and affordable housing creation. Continuing the conversation on affordable housing, the group also looks at another bill, LD1294, which has a lot of city planners talking and will expand the use of commercial zones to also include housing. The group goes on to discuss the importance of elevators for housing creation and smart growth development, as well as a landmark bill that passed with bi-partisan support that will have a big impact on development in Maine: LD772, also known as the “Permitting Predictability Act.” What else is on the horizon for exciting new real estate development laws in Maine? Listen to the episode to find out!

    52 min
  3. Developing a Dream at the Edge of the Woods. Monson, Maine and the Libra Foundation”

    AUG 20

    Developing a Dream at the Edge of the Woods. Monson, Maine and the Libra Foundation”

    Chantal Harris, Director of Monson Arts, and Stuart Kestenbaum, Senior Advisor at Monson Arts and the former Director of Haystack and previous Maine Poet Laureate, sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for the second episode in Season 2 of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. Harris and Kestenbaum, two prominent members of the nonprofit arts community in Maine, discuss the history of Monson, a community at the end of the Appalachian Trail near the Canadian border and the disruptive philanthropy that helped transform and revitalize the town. Their organization, Monson Arts, is an artist residency and workshop program that was founded as a way to spur economic development in the area. Kestenbaum shares how he got involved with the project after learning about the Libra Foundation buying land and buildings around Monson in a newspaper article. Harris goes on to describe the transformation of downtown Monson and their community and studio spaces that overlook Lake Hebron. The group then discusses the impact Monson Arts has had in the community with such contributions as a new medical clinic, a James Beard Award-Winning restaurant, as well as a dramatic increase in the value of single-family homes. Harris and Kestenbaum also share their plans and vision for the future, with hopes of engaging new partners to see the opportunities available in the area. What are Harris and Kestenbaum most proud of? Listen to the episode to find out!

    43 min
  4. A Conversation with Sean Ireland and Mandy Reynolds from The Grant

    JUL 9

    A Conversation with Sean Ireland and Mandy Reynolds from The Grant

    From The Grant, Sean Ireland, a Principal at Windward Development, and Mandy Reynolds, a real estate development consultant, sit down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for the first episode in Season 2 of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine.

    54 min
  5. A Conversation with Shannon Richards, Incoming President for MEREDA

    JUN 4

    A Conversation with Shannon Richards, Incoming President for MEREDA

    Incoming President of MEREDA Shannon Richards sits with current MEREDA President Craig Young and immediate past President Josh Fifield for the eighteenth episode of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. Richards, who is the Founder of the design-build firm Hay Runner, shares the origin of her company, including the inspiration for its name. She goes on to talk about what it was like growing up in Castine, Maine and Jamestown, Rhode Island and why she feels that all of Maine is like an island community. Richards also discusses the importance of art in her life, how she does something creative everyday, and why she decided to build an art school with her partner, architect Caleb Johnson. The conversation also includes a discussion on Richards’s approach to running a successful business, which for her is about coming up with a plan and then showing up every single day. The group goes on to reflect on their experiences working together on MEREDA events and what Richards’s goals are for the next two years as President. Where is Shannon’s favorite place to vacation in Maine? Listen to the episode to find out!

    50 min
  6. A Conversation with Mark Dion, Mayor of Portland

    MAY 7

    A Conversation with Mark Dion, Mayor of Portland

    Mayor of Portland Mark Dion sits down with MEREDA President Craig Young and MEREDA Board Member and MaineHousing’s Senior Director of Government Relations and Communications Erik Jorgensen, for the seventeenth episode of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. Dion, who grew up in Lewiston, discusses his life-long career in public service, which includes serving in the Portland Police Department for 20 years, then as Sheriff for 12 years, and as both a State Representative and Senator. Dion shares how Portland has changed since he first moved to town in 1972 to attend USM, remembering when Portland was just a “big fishing town” and sharing his experience as a beat cop in the Old Port. He goes on to discuss his decision to head to Augusta to serve in the House of Representatives and his work on the campaign to legalize medical marijuana in Maine. The conversation continues as Dion talks about his agenda and priorities for Portland and shares that he’s friends with people who have opposing views as him on the City Council. The group goes on to discuss the complex situation of the unhoused population in Portland, the dire need for affordable housing, and the problem with deciding policy by referendum. What is Mayor Dion’s favorite restaurant? Listen to the episode to find out!

    1 hr
  7. A Conversation with Chris Marshall and Nate Green of Green Mars

    APR 2

    A Conversation with Chris Marshall and Nate Green of Green Mars

    The founders of GreenMars – Nate Green, Lead Developer, and Chris Marshall, Business Manager – sit down with MEREDA President Craig Young and MEREDA Board Member Josh Soley, for the sixteenth episode of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. Green and Marshall discuss how they search for development opportunities by reviewing town’s comprehensive plans and give an overview of one of their projects in Brunswick that is in a “designated growth zone.” The pair, who both grew up in York and met in preschool, talk about how their partnership started after their early career paths took them in different directions. The group discusses the learning curve for getting involved in development work, the biggest risks GreenMars has faced thus far, and the importance of relationship building. Green and Marshall go on to provide an overview of their other development projects including Yarmouth Commons in Yarmouth, Nasson in the Pines in Sanford, and the Time & Temperature Building in Portland. The Time Temperature Building will feature affordable micro-unit apartments and expansive amenities such as a co-working space and roof-top deck, a trend that is taking off in other urban areas in the country. Asked to give advice to other young developers, Green and Marshall cite persistence and a bias toward action as fundamental. What Portland restaurant is a go-to for Nate and Chris? Listen to the episode to find out!

    54 min
  8. Housing the Unhoused with Kevin Bunker, Danielle West and Greg Payne.

    MAR 5

    Housing the Unhoused with Kevin Bunker, Danielle West and Greg Payne.

    Kevin Bunker, Principal of Developers Collaborative; Greg Payne, Senior Advisor on Housing Policy at the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; and Danielle West, City Manager in Portland, sat down with MEREDA President Craig Young for a MEREDA Morning Menu event on February 1st entitled ‘Housing the Unhoused and Asylum Seekers.’ The thought-provoking discussion was recorded and rebroadcast for the fifteenth episode of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. The aim of the group’s discussion was to enable a deeper understanding of the complexities around providing housing and social services for those who are unhoused and seeking asylum. Bunker begins by describing the new homeless shelter in Portland as well as the new asylum seeker shelter in Portland that his firm, Developers Collaborative, built with Cianbro. Payne goes on to describe the State’s focus on adding housing supply as well as addressing some of the zoning laws that constrict affordable housing development. He also discusses how the ‘Housing First’ approach, combined with on-site support services, is effective for getting people off the streets and is part of a long-term effort to scale housing opportunities statewide. West provides insight into how Portland has been addressing the issue, from addressing the encampments to providing beds for the large influx of asylum seekers. The group goes on to discuss how collaboration has been a key feature of the success stories, and that real estate can play a big role in solving the problem. Listen to the episode to learn more about this important issue!

    58 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall listening in on a conversation between Maine’s real estate industry leaders? You’re in luck - MEREDA now has a podcast: MEREDA Matters! This is not your typical Q&A session. This is a podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. It’s dynamic and we don’t know where each conversation will go, but you’re sure to learn something new each episode. MEREDA Matters gives you insider conversations that highlight the people, stories, and relationships behind the real estate and development deals in Maine. Sponsored by: Bangor Savings Bank | Clark Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company

Information

  • Creator
    MEREDA
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 MEREDA Matters
  • Show Website
    MEREDA Matters

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