SACO — The former Central Fire Station has been named to Maine Preservation’s Most Endangered Historic Resources List.

The list was announced by Greg Paxton, executive director of Maine Preservation, at a press conference at Saco City Hall Tuesday morning. This is the 15th list the nonprofit organization has released.

“Maine’s Most Endangered Historic Resources List began in 1996 for the purpose of identifying and raising public awareness of the breadth and interest in preserving endangered and threatened historic properties and materials,” said Paxton.

The former fire station, located on Thornton Avenue, was built in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project and vacated last year after a new station was constructed on North Street. The building is one of eight WPA buildings in the state and the only one in the City of Saco, said Paxton.

The city council recently voted against a proposal from Cynthia Taylor, of the nonprofit Housing Initiatives of New England, to buy the building for $50,000 and convert it into a mixed-use residential and commercial space. Taylor was going to rehabilitate the building to meet the National Register of Historic Places standards and planned to invest $1.2 million.

Taylor, who is the Maine Preservation board of trustees vice president, did not take part in the decision to put the building on the list, said Paxton.

The city has postponed, until next month, a decision whether to demolish the building, at a cost of about $90,000.

Paxton said investing in the building, rather than demolishing it, would offer a significant benefit to the community and add to the tax base, as well as save the city the demolition cost.

“The old Central Fire Station in Saco exhibits a legacy that is equal parts architecture and community,” said Paxton.

The press conference was attended by local dignitaries and community members interested in historic preservation, as well as those from other communities who shared stories of their efforts of historic preservation.

Richard Peterson was a member of a 2010 ad hoc city committee to try to determine the best use of the former fire station property.

Peterson referred to the recent split, 4-3 vote not to approve Taylor’s proposal, and said, “We only need one vote to save it,” he said. He encouraged people in the audience to join him in his pursuit.

“We’re going to save the fire station,” he said.

He said the project would bring the city taxable income, rather than have the city “spend $250,000 it doesn’t have” to demolish the building and create a parking lot. Peterson said that he got “rock star parking” that morning, and there is not a need for parking in the downtown.

Former city councilor Margaret “Peg” Mills said she was disappointed the council didn’t move forward with the proposal last week. She said by retaining buildings like the fire station “we assert that we are Saco and not a cookie-cutter town.”

Mayor Mark Johnston, who is in favor of Taylor’s proposal, said he believes the building will be saved, given the support of so many people in the community.

“I’m so proud of Saco citizens,” he said.

Other buildings that made the list were Wood Island Life Saving Station in Kittery, Timber Point Cottage in Biddeford, Bar Mills School and Hollis High School in Buxton and Hollis, Waterville Savings Bank in Waterville, and Lincoln Street School in Rockland. Other items on the list include the broader categories of historic freight sheds, in-town public facilities, original building materials and history. History, said Paxton, is based on written records. The digital era has given people more access to records, but digital records face threats to permanence, said Paxton. Files may become incompatible with new systems or lost, and websites can be easily removed.

One example Paxton gave of a model historic preservation project is an ongoing project in South Berwick that is transforming the former St. Michael’s Church into a public library.

“These success stories demonstrate how creative reuse of facilities in town centers facilitates economically sound and culturally thriving communities,” he said.

Karen Eger, director of the South Berwick Library, said when people come into the new location, “they are just beyond delighted.”

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.