Oriole Way, conveniently located between the Route 1 shopping district and Water Street, is the largest residential housing development in the history of the City of Ellsworth. Ellsworth has experienced significant growth in recent years and the project is a response to the increased need for affordable workforce housing. Oriole Way is composed of 50 rental townhomes of various sizes and configurations.

Consistent with its smart growth orientation, Developers Collaborative placed the new community on land immediately behind a traditional shopping center. This goal of introducing residential living into a traditional “strip mall” is an important one for many communities seeking to reinvigorate and diversify a traditional commercial area, which itself will provide a wide variety of shopping and services within walking distance of the new community.