29. Bangor’s Housing Blueprint: Building Homes Without Losing Neighborhood Character

Bangor is one of Maine’s true regional hubs: a city of about 33,000 that swells to roughly 130,000 people during the day. In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot (Pouliot Real Estate) sits down with Anne Krieg, Director of Community & Economic Development for the City of Bangor, to talk about how Bangor is tackling housing supply while protecting the scale and character of its neighborhoods. They cover what Bangor has already changed—parking requirements, ADUs, zoning updates, and streamlined permitting—plus what’s next: pre-approved duplex/triplex/fourplex plans, mixed rental/ownership development targeting 80–120% AMI, tiny home communities, co-living, supportive housing, and the real-world constraints that can slow progress (financing and infrastructure like wastewater capacity). They also discuss downtown conversions, employer-supported housing, and the redevelopment potential around the Bangor Mall area. If you care about housing affordability, development, and practical solutions that work in real communities, this episode is packed with actionable insights.