Groundbreaking for Building Three Marks a Major Milestone in the Stevens Square Master Plan
- Developers Collaborative
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
Portland, Maine - December 2, 2025
Developers Collaborative celebrated an important milestone on December 2 with the ceremonial groundbreaking for Building Three, the next phase of the 55+ Stevens Square at Baxter Woods community. This new building is part of the larger 19-acre Stevens Square campus, which as a whole represents the multi-year redevelopment of the historic Sisters of Mercy campus into a mixed-use, intergenerational neighborhood in Portland’s Deering Center.
Set against fresh snow and bright winter sun, the moment represented not only the start of construction for 28 new condominium homes, but also the continued progress of a master plan that Developers Collaborative Founder & Principal Kevin Bunker first envisioned in 2017: a community where housing, amenities, nature, and neighborhood life are thoughtfully integrated.
A Vision Taking Shape: Leadership Remarks
Ed Gardner, Broker/Owner of Gardner Real Estate Group
Ed Gardner, whose team leads the sales efforts for Stevens Square, opened the event with reflections on the campus transformation to date, emphasizing the interconnected nature of the project:
88 apartments in the redeveloped Motherhouse
66 affordable units serving the community
22 market-rate apartments
Two completed condo buildings
And now, Building Three, soon home to 28 more households
Gardner highlighted how these layers of housing create a truly vibrant, multigenerational neighborhood, a unique model in Portland.
Kevin Bunker, Founder & Principal, Developers Collaborative
“This one is a labor of love,” Bunker shared as he reflected on the seven-year journey of planning, approvals, transformation, and community engagement that brought the project to this moment.
He explained the development process behind Building Three, originally planned as a 42-unit building before moving that larger massing elsewhere on campus. Re-imagining it as a 28-unit structure ultimately unlocked feasibility.
Bunker credited Optimum Construction for helping the team reach the necessary construction budget to maintain price accessibility, ensuring the building aligned with Stevens Square’s core goal: high-quality, lower-maintenance homes for active adults seeking connection, wellness, and walkable living.
Bunker also shared a story from earlier that morning, while giving a tour to a national senior-living development group:
“They said, ‘You should be really proud of what you've done here, the intergenerational aspect is exactly what the national market wants.’ Hearing that from outside Maine was incredibly validating.”
That blend of intentional design and natural evolution is evident everywhere from the thoughtfully planned amenities to the community-made “dog park” that emerged organically near the building site.
“We tried to plan carefully, but also leave room for things to evolve naturally,” Bunker noted. “And that’s happening. People are shaping this place themselves.”
Mike Coyne, Principal Architect, Archetype Architects
Architect Mike Coyne shared the project team’s long-standing involvement with the campus, beginning with the Motherhouse adaptive reuse nearly a decade ago. He described Stevens Square as:
A rare opportunity to transition architectural language from historically sensitive restoration to modern, contemporary residential forms
A phased learning model, where feedback from residents in Buildings One and Two directly informs the design approach for Building Three
A unified neighborhood, accomplished by blending old and new materials, massing, and proportions across multiple structures
Coyne emphasized the value of phased development:
“Unlike typical stand-alone projects, each phase here teaches us something. We can adapt to residents’ lived experiences and integrate improvements into the next building. That iterative process strengthens the entire campus.”
Mayor Mark Dion, City of Portland
Mayor Mark Dion spoke to the significance of the project for the Deering Center neighborhood and the city as a whole:
“Everyone wants Deering Center. The walkability, the sense of community...this project adds to that. Stevens Square is an anchor at this end of the neighborhood.”
He acknowledged the complexity of development in Portland and praised the persistence required to complete a project of this scale:
“It’s hard to be a developer. But if it doesn’t work for them, it doesn’t work for the people who will call this home. Developers Collaborative believes in their vision, and they believe in your dream to have a home where you want it to be.”
Technical Overview: Building Three
Building Three introduces 28 condominium homes across four residential levels, offering:
Efficient, modern layouts (two- and three-bedroom options)
Large windows, high ceilings, and excellent natural light
Private balconies
Walk-in closets
Climate-controlled indoor parking
Energy-efficient mechanical systems and modern building envelopes
Direct access to the Stevens Square pedestrian network
Homes range from 1,204 to 1,659 sq. ft., striking a balance between spacious comfort and lower-maintenance living.
Pre-Construction Customization
As with earlier phases, early buyers have the opportunity to personalize cabinetry, counters, flooring, and other finish selections. The phased development model ensures these options benefit from lessons learned in Buildings One and Two.
Campus Amenities: A True Mixed-Use Neighborhood
Stevens Square continues to grow into a full-service campus anchored by the fully renovated Stevens Square Community Center, which now hosts a wide range of amenities and businesses:
Health & Wellness Center
Heated indoor pool
Fitness studio and gymnasium
Café and lounge/work spaces
Good Theater, now performing year-round in the restored auditorium
On-site daycare
Portland Winter Farmers’ Market, launching for the season this coming weekend, December 6
Physical therapy, massage therapy, and speech therapy
Other activities and services, including an architecture firm, recovery center, Spanish school, basketball, and pickleball
Residents also enjoy direct access to Mayor Baxter Woods, Portland’s beloved 30-acre protected forest. This integrated environment, housing, nature, recreation, arts, wellness, childcare, and local businesses, is one of the strongest differentiators of the Stevens Square master plan.
Project Oversight
Mike Lyne provides oversight of many aspects of Developers Collaborative’s commercial real estate projects, including the Stevens Square at Baxter Woods campus, ensuring that both development and operational standards are consistently met across the property.
A Neighborhood Built Through Partnership
The groundbreaking also recognized the many contributors whose collaboration makes multi-phase redevelopment of this scale possible, including:
Developers Collaborative
City of Portland leadership and planning staff
Current residents of Buildings One and Two
Watch the Event: Full Remarks Available
A full video of the groundbreaking remarks featuring Ed Gardner, Kevin Bunker, Mike Coyne, and Mayor Mark Dion is available for anyone who would like to hear the speeches in their entirety:
Looking Ahead
With construction now underway, Developers Collaborative continues its commitment to building a vibrant, sustainable, and connected community that honors the campus’s history while shaping its next chapter.
Building Three represents another step forward, not just in construction, but in realizing a long-term vision that blends smart growth, housing diversity, architectural continuity, and active community life.
More construction updates and milestones will be shared throughout the coming months at developerscollaborative.com and stevenssquare.com
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