SACO — The city has agreed to sell the former central fire station on Thornton Avenue to Cynthia Taylor of Housing Initiatives of New England.
The sale for $100,000 was approved unanimously by the council Monday night, ending two years of discussions and emotional debate on what to do with the building.
The vote was met with loud applause from audience members, some wearing red shirts that read “SAVE OLD SACO FIRE STATION.” Along one side of the council chamber were signs from the rally at the former fire station this past Sunday, organized by supporters of preserving the former fire station building.
The Thornton Avenue building was built in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project, and was vacated in 2011 when the fire department moved to its new central station on North Street.
The council had rejected, by a slim margin, a previous offer of $50,000 from Taylor last month.
Councilor David Tripp thanked Taylor for her patience, fortitude and willingness to listen to the council.
Taylor was shown a group photo of the crowd of people at Sunday’s rally, and Mayor Mark Johnston promised to give it to her after it was framed so she could hang it up in the building.
“The public outcry has meant a lot to me,” said Taylor. She said she hoped she could live up to the people’s expectations.
Taylor said it will take at least eight months to get the building on the National Register of Historic Places, after which she will begin construction.
Taylor said she will create four to six units of market-rate housing for senior citizens, retail and office space, and community space for seniors. A small administration building on the property will be torn down for parking.
Taylor owns another building on Thornton Avenue, which is a mixed-use property with apartments and an insurance office.
Saco resident and fire station supporter Colleen Sergeant said she felt a sense of relief after the vote.
“I’m thrilled we don’t have to keep fighting this battle,” she said, but added that she and other supporters weren’t going to let up their support for historic buildings.
“I’ve seen so many buildings torn down in my lifetime,” she said.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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