A local nonprofit focused on increasing housing options in Bath celebrated a milestone on Tuesday at its new apartment complex on Centre Street.

Bath Housing invited the public to 520 Centre St., the organization’s first new multifamily housing development in 40 years, almost filling the 18 two-bedroom, income-restricted apartments since opening in June 2025.

There are only two vacant apartments left at 520 Centre St., as Bath Housing has filled the residential units at a rate of six per month, said Bath Housing Executive Director Debora Keller. Most residents work in the area, including at Bath Iron Works.

“This project in particular is the first of several developments planned for the Congress Avenue Corridor, so it’s more than just this one particular development,” said Bath Director of Economic and Community Development Misty Parker.

At the corridor project’s conclusion, Bath Housing will more than double its portfolio, adding 200 apartments to the nonprofit’s current slate of 175 units, Keller said.

Bath Housing describes 520 Centre St. as the first domino in its Congress Avenue Corridor Vision, with the apartment complex also serving as the nonprofit’s new office location. There will be two more phases of development involving a second apartment complex on Centre Street and at Bath Housing’s old location at 80 Congress St.

Next to the newly constructed apartment complex is 540 Centre St., currently under construction and set to hold 47 apartments. The Anchorage South project on Congress Avenue is scheduled for construction in spring 2026. It will feature 47 one-bedroom apartments, replacing the existing Anchorage building that currently houses 39 apartments, Keller said.

Bath Housing recently sold 150 Congress Ave. to a developer who plans to construct 84 new apartments geared toward shipyard employees.

Bath hasn’t seen any new major housing developments come onto the market at the same time in decades, according to Bath City Council Chairperson Miriam Johnson. Last year in May, the Uptown senior apartment complex, located on the corner of Front and Summer streets, opened for residents looking to stay permanently in Bath.

“We have been feeling the pressure for a number of years, and it is very important to the community to ensure that there is housing that is accessible for everyone,” Parker said.

Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, Bath Housing invited residents and other attendees to a housewarming event to contribute to a time capsule to capture the spirit and excitement of the day. Inside the capsule are 100 messages expressing hope for the future of Bath from community members and residents living in the new apartment, including a letter from Gov. Janet Mills.

“Hopefully, we are setting a trend, and with each new building we open, we can do a time capsule,” Keller said.

The time capsule will be buried at a later date, and Bath community members can still contribute a message or trinket to it for the next month.