A special opportunity has come to the Boothbay region for affordable and moderately priced housing. A philanthropist will fund a significant portion of the purchase price of each home with an interest-free loan so that owners can build equity in their property. Three home designs will be decided up and priced between $175,000 and $225,000.

The planned community will be situated on a 24-acre site on Middle Road in Boothbay Harbor. Forty house lots are planned with communal access to West Harbor Pond.

Have you ever wanted to design your dream home? The Boothbay Housing Committee — an early name for those helping to plan the community — is asking interested people to design interior house plans for a 1,000, 1,250 or 1,500 square foot home. The single story homes will be built on a slab. The 1,000 square foot homes will have two bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms; the 1,200 square foot homes will have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms; and the 1,500 square foot homes will have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

The committee has asked this newspaper to collect the plans because of its location. House plans should be submitted to the front office of the Boothbay Register, 97 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor by Monday, Aug. 26. All plans submitted will be used to inspire the final plans used to construct the new community. Think big! Design small! Think green!