Migis Hotel Group, like many other employers in Maine, has been facing difficulties in recruiting staff due to the lack of affordable housing. In response to this challenge, the company recently acquired a 6,076-square-foot student dormitory located at 95 King St. in Saco. The purpose of this purchase is to provide workforce housing for the professional restaurant employees working at two of Migis Hotel Group's local properties, namely Higgins Beach Inn and Black Point Inn. The dormitory, situated on 0.75 acres, is handicap-accessible and comprises 11 rooms, seven full bathrooms, and one half-bath.
The seller of the property was Thornton Academy listed at $784,000. Cheri Bonawitz and Karen Rich from Malone Commercial Brokers represented the buyer, and Sylas Hatch and TC Haffenreffer of the Dunham Group represented the seller.
Jesse Henry, the director of marketing for Migis Hotel Group, emphasized the significance of affordable housing in addressing the challenges faced by the company in recruiting employees.
Migis Hotel Group, based in Westbrook, is a hospitality management services company that operates various independent hotels, destination resort properties, and dining facilities across Maine. Some of their properties, such as Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake, already provide workforce housing on their campuses. However, Higgins Beach Inn and Black Point Inn, both located in Scarborough, lacked such accommodation options, and the availability of affordable housing in the area was limited.
Consequently, the decision was made to secure affordable housing for the workforce by acquiring the dormitory. Following the completion of the sale, the building quickly filled up with food and beverage professionals primarily employed at the two inns. The investment in workforce housing was necessary to ensure the availability of a professional workforce and the smooth operation of both properties, especially considering the challenges faced during the pandemic and subsequent years.
“For the last couple of years, we’ve been actively putting most of our focus on obtaining the professional workforce we need,” Henry said. “That’s been our No. 1 focus. As we have internally reexamined our recruiting process and what we need to do to distinguish ourselves around obtaining the workforce resources we need, we felt that providing affordable housing made sense.”
To optimize the functionality of the property, Migis Hotel Group has completed a site plan review with Saco's planning board. The building will undergo a conversion process, transforming it from a dormitory with shared bathrooms and a shared kitchen into six independent units, each with its own bathroom and kitchen. The majority of the units will be two-bedroom, with an additional four-bedroom unit in the main house and a one-bedroom unit. The units will initially be available for a six-month period to accommodate the professional workforce of the company, and there is potential for year-round use as well. During the off-season, the units may be opened up to professionals from other industries.
The dormitory plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining industry professionals who come to Maine for the season to work for the company, making it a valuable recruitment and retention tool.