The A.D. Makepeace Company is exploring a new development in the 400 block of Main Street that would renovate historic cranberry company buildings and create affordable housing.

The project, dubbed "Wankinco Landing," is in its infancy -- A.D. Makepeace has not yet approached the Planning Board with the idea.

“A.D. Makepeace has been working with town officials to evaluate and plan uses for its Main Street property since the mid-2000s,” said Linda Burke, Vice President of Marketing and Communication for the company.

A.D. Makepeace owns adjacent lots 471, 473, 477, and 481 Main Street, according to the town assessor records.

Located at 417 Main Street are two historic buildings the company refers to as the "Screen House" and the "Scoop House." Burke says those structures are among the few remaining cranberry screen houses where workers would manually separate berries in the early 20th century.

The buildings are currently boarded up, but could be renovated to potentially house nonprofit cranberry industry advocacy groups.

The adjacent lots are vacant and buildable.

As currently proposed, the three-phase project would result in 38 one-bedroom affordable housing units. The first phase would be the renovation of the historic buildings. The second would be the construction of 24 units of housing, and the third phase would complete the remaining 14 units.

The A.D. Makepeace Company recently approached the Housing Authority to see if it could assist with the process of determining income qualification for potential tenants for the housing.

Housing Authority representatives said they see potential in a partnership with the company.

"It's still a long way to go," noted Wareham Housing Authority Chair Bob Powilatis, adding that the project "would be great for residents because there's a great demand for affordable housing in the community."

Powilatis said that there are several hundred people currently on waiting lists for affordable housing. The Wareham Housing Authority operates two state-owned affordable developments: Agawam Village on Sandwich Road and Redwood Park on Church Avenue, behind Tobey Hospital. Both only allow elderly and disabled tenants.

Additionally, the Housing Authority partners with several private affordable housing developments to assist in determining residents' and families' income-eligibility, including Brandy Hill, Union Pond, and The Village at 815 Main Street, Cromesett Woods, Depot Crossing, and Cranberry Manor.

A.D. Makepeace has not said whether the affordable units it is proposing for Wankinco Landing would be restricted to elderly and/or disabled tenants.

"Recent conversations with representatives of the Wareham Housing Authority were intended as a means of learning more about the Authority's future plans and objectives, so we could determine whether there is an opportunity to work together," Burke explained.

Company representatives have said that they will approach the Housing Authority again in the fall the company continues to determine the feasibility of the project.

The A.D. Makepeace Company, headquartered in Wareham, is the world's largest cranberry grower and largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts. In recent years, the company has had an eye for real estate and commercial development. The Rosebrook Business Park in Wareham, which houses a medical office building and will soon be home to an assisted living community, opened in 2011. Adjacent to the business park is Rosebrook Place, featuring the Marriott's TownPlace Suites hotel, several restaurants, and retail space.