Dane Farm Seasonal Workforce Housing Project Updates

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Dane Farm Seasonal Workforce Housing Project Updates

Construction is expected to last 10 to 12 months and, when complete, will be home to eight of Acadia’s seasonal employees!

July 9th, 2024

Friends of Acadia acquired the 4-acre parcel of land located on the northern end of Jordan Pond Road in September 2023 from Seal Harbor Properties, LLC. The property, located in Seal Harbor, within Acadia National Park’s administrative boundary, had been used as a gravel pit used for materials and equipment storage. It will soon be home to eight of Acadia’s seasonal employees!

Friends of Acadia retained E.L. Shea Builders & Engineers, headquartered in Ellsworth, to construct a primary residence with five bedrooms and an accessory dwelling with three bedrooms.

When completed, Friends of Acadia will donate the land and buildings to Acadia National Park for long-term ownership and management.

Update: October 8, 2024: Ribbon Cutting!

Friends of Acadia hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony that celebrated the completion of Dane Farm! The ceremony was followed by tours of the units, which have take shape as welcoming homes for Acadia’s seasonal employees.

Speakers, including Senator Angus King Jr. (ME-I) and National Park Service Deputy Director Lena McDowell, emphasized that housing options are essential to attract and retain employees dedicated to the ongoing preservation, protection and enjoyment of the park for current and future visitors.

“National parks across the country are grappling with the challenge of providing quality housing for park employees,” said Lise Aangeenbrug, chief program officer of the National Park Foundation. “The National Park Foundation is committed to pursuing innovative solutions. The partnership between NPS and Friends of Acadia serves as a best-in-class example of how our $2 million grant to NPS can accelerate philanthropic investments and leverage partnerships to provide quality housing for the people who care for our parks.”

Friends of Acadia’s President and CEO Eric Stiles noted the importance of the donors and partnerships that make these projects possible.

“Every donor, every dollar counts. Our long-term success in tackling this immense challenge is dependent on both public and private funding. Together, we’re making a difference, one bedroom, one park ranger at a time.” said Stiles. “The dynamic partnership between the park and Friends of Acadia allows us to tackle the housing crisis head on. This effort will have a 100-year impact on the park and unlock opportunities for people to establish and continue incredible careers in the park service that help to preserve and protect these cherished places.”

> Read more about the ribbon cutting

Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider and Sen. Angus S. King Jr. cut the Dane Farm housing ribbon at Dane Farm. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

People gather for the Dane farm ribbon cutting on Oct. 8, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

A ribbon is displayed in front of completed Dane Farm housing before the ribbon cutting on Oct. 8, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

The kitchen in newly completed Dane Farm housing is on view before the ribbon cutting on Oct. 8, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

The living room in newly completed Dane Farm housing is on view before the ribbon cutting on Oct. 8, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Exterior shot of both units at Dane Farm. Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia

Update: August 16, 2024

Department of the Interior nominee Shannon Estenoz visited Dane Farm with Acadia National Park and Friends of Acadia staff. Estenoz got an on-site look at the project and heard more about the larger ongoing efforts to solve workforce housing challenges at Acadia from Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider and Friends of Acadia CEO and President Eric Stiles.

Department of the Interior nominee Shannon Estenoz listens to ANP superintendant Kevin Schneider during her visit to Dane Farm with ANP and FOA staff on Aug. 16, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Department of the Interior nominee Shannon Estenoz visits Dane Farm with ANP and FOA staff on Aug. 16, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia President and CEO Eric Stiles talks with Department of the Interior nominee Shannon Estenoz ans others inside one of the Dane Farm units. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Department of the Interior nominee Shannon Estenoz visits Dane Farm with ANP and FOA staff on Aug. 16, 2024 at Dane Farm in Acadia National Park, M.E. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Update: July 1, 2024

Friends of Acadia hosted two informal tours for donors, friends, and neighbors at the Dane Farm construction site in Seal Harbor on Sunday, June 30th. More than 40 people stopped by to see the construction progress first-hand and tour the two buildings. Guests had an opportunity to ask questions about the seasonal workforce housing project, and they also saw where the meadow and outdoor landscaping will go. Our contractors at E.L. Shea construction are making great progress! Both residential housing units are framed in and insulated, and windows and doors are being installed. President and CEO Eric Stiles reported that the project is on time and on budget. Dane Farm will house eight seasonal employees for Acadia by next spring 2025. Friends of Acadia plans to donate the structures and the land to the park upon completion.

Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia Vice President of Development Lisa Horsch Clark (right) speaks to Friends of Acadia Board Members and Seal Harbor community members during a visit to the Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

FOA board member Liz Williams and FOA Board Chair Bill Eacho tour the Dane Farm seasonal housing on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Windows, plumbing and electrical have been installed at the Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Drone image of progress at the Dane Farm Seasonal Housing Project in Seal Harbor. Shingles are currently being installed to the roof. (Photos by Kip Wing/Aerial Aesthetic/Friends of Acadia)

Update: April 22, 2024

Staff and board members from Friends of Acadia and Acadia National Park got a site tour to see the progress at Dane Farm. Both units have taken shape! The building shells are done with walls and roofing up. Plumbing and electrical conduits are in the ground and concrete has been poured for the floors. Next steps: walls, windows, and doors!

The group got to hear more about the plans for landscaping on the property, which includes planting native vegetation to reclaim an area that had been a gravel pit for many years. This “native warm season meadow” will be a mix of grasses and flowers, which is excellent for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and humming birds. It also helps with clean air and clean water.

Landscaping plan for the Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on April 22, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Both units are taking shape at the Dane Farm site. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider, second from right, talks with Friends of Acadia board member Anne Green during a site visit at Dane Farm. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia board members and staff explore the new construction at Dane Farm. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia Board Members Visit the Dane Farm seasonal housing construction site on April 22, 2024. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Update: March 4, 2024

Check out this video of the roof trusses going up!

Dane Farm Roof Truss Installation from Friends of Acadia on Vimeo.

Raising the roof trusses! Workers with E.L. Shea construction use heavy equipment to lift the pre-fabricated trusses, which were made in Maine, onto the unit.

E.L. Shea construction workers at the Dane Farm seasonal workforce housing project. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

E.L. Shea construction workers used heavy equipment to lift the pre-fabricated trusses. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

E.L. Shea construction workers used heavy equipment to lift the pre-fabricated trusses, which were made in Maine, on top of the unit walls. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

E.L. Shea construction workers secure roof trusses in place. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Roof trusses installed at the Dane Farm Seasonal Housing Project in Seal Harbor. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Update February 26, 2024

Concrete basement walls are poured into forms at the Dane Farm Seasonal Housing Project in Seal Harbor.

Concrete basement walls being poured at the Dane Farm Seasonal Housing Project in Seal Harbor. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Owner’s representative Dave Nazaroff checks the site plans for the Dane Farm Seasonal Housing Project in Seal Harbor. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)