BIDDEFORD — In December 2010, 100 years after the building had been constructed, St. Andre’s Church on Bacon Street closed its doors. The church closure was one of several in York County, and many more around the state, by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
But plans are in the works to bring new life to the Biddeford church properties and help revitalize the Bacon Street neighborhood.
“The renaissance of this area is about to occur,” said Biddeford Housing Authority Executive Director Guy Gagnon, in a recent email.
Southern Maine Affordable Housing and the BHA are taking the lead in acquiring the church properties to provide new housing and renovation of existing housing. Plans are also in the works for community use of some of the space, which could include a Boys and Girls Club, which has been discussed for a number of years as a need for Biddeford youth.
The plans could fall into place as soon as next month, said Gagnon.
Mayor Alan Casavant said he’s all for it.
“The ultimate goal is to stabilize that entire neighborhood with good, safe housing,” he said. If community uses can also be installed in the properties, that’s an added plus, said the mayor.
SMAH is under contract with the diocese to purchase the church at 75 Bacon St. and the former Catholic Center at 41 Sullivan St., according to Gagnon, who is president of that non-profit organization, which is affiliated with BHA.
BHA is working independently to also finalize purchase of the St. Andre’s rectory at 73 Bacon St., he said.
The advertised price for the church, the former Catholic Center and the rectory is $599,000, according to a brochure put out by the Boulos Company, which is the real estate firm handling the property. The assessed value, according to the brochure, of the three properties combined is approximately $2.5 million.
David Gadbois, with the Good Shepherd Parish, which oversees Catholic churches and services in Biddeford and nearby communities, declined to comment on the pending sale. He said he wouldn’t discuss anything regarding the St. Andre’s properties until a sale is finalized.
SMAH has also received preliminary approval from Maine State Housing to acquire an existing 35-unit senior housing property, owned by St. Andre’s Housing, Inc., at 39 Sullivan St., which it plans to renovate, according to Gagnon.
For the other properties that agency plans to purchase, he stated, “SMAH has had architects, engineers, contractors and historic consultants working on plans for the re-use of the church” and former Catholic Center.
SMAH is proposing to create 15 affordable senior apartments at the property at 41 Sullivan St., stated Gagnon. That project would be funded through historic credits and financing from Maine State Housing. Preliminary approval of that funding was received this week, he said.
There are no definite plans for the church, stated Gagnon. Under consideration are a Boys and Girls Club, a museum, a theater program and other ideas. The uses would be something “where the entire community could share the space, bringing the property and the neighborhood back to life,” he stated. “The goal will be to offer something for everyone in the community.”
Fundraising would be necessary to pay for church renovations, said Gagnon, who noted that he’s received verbal agreements from potential donors.
The BHA purchase of the rectory would use a Community Development Block Grant, CDBG, he stated.
According to Gagnon, he is awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to spend the CDBG funds, which he expects to come through next month.
If HUD approves the project, initially the exterior of the building would be refurbished, he stated. As additional funding becomes available, the building would be renovated to create residential units on the top floors and space for community services on the bottom floor.
Community Development Coordinator Linda Hardacker, who administers CDBG funds for the city and has done significant work to improve the Bacon Street area, said she is pleased that the purchase and rehabilitation of the properties associated with the church is likely to take place.
Speaking specifically about the BHA purchase of the rectory, she said, “This has been an eyesore.”
If the building is purchased and renovated, “It will be a showpiece” in the area, said Hardacker. “It will help with neighborhood revitalization.”
Since Gagnon was hired as executive director of the BHA 2010, the agency has acquired more than 60 residential units. Prior to his hiring, it didn’t own any.
“The board hired me to get BHA more involved in solving some of our area’s housing issues,” stated Gagnon. “Also, the city, particularly the CDBG department, has encouraged us to redevelop key buildings in certain neighborhoods as a way to encourage adjacent property owners to improve their properties while at the same time providing quality affordable housing for renters and for first-time homebuyers.”
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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