SACO — A proposed development project that would turn the former Notre Dame de Lourdes Church into market-rate apartments would create a higher density of apartments than city zoning allows, and would need a contract zone to move forward.

Hardypond Construction wants to rehabilitate the former church on Cutts Avenue, tear down the rectory and create about 80 apartments.

The church closed in December 2009. In 2013, the city considered buying the property with the plan to demolish the church, create more downtown parking and resell the rectory, but the deal never came to fruition.

Frank Carr, director of business development with Hardypond Construction, said the company is under contract to buy the former church property, which includes the adjacent parking lot and the rectory.

The first phase of the project would be to rehabilitate the church into 21 to 25 market-rate apartments. He hopes to have those apartments on the market by July 2017.

Carr said the company is rehabilitating a Methodist Church in Portland into apartments, and has acquired a skill set to redevelop churches into apartments while keeping historic features like some of the stained glass and wood beams.

“It’s kind of neat to have those stuck inside units,” he said. “Millennials love this kind of style and character.”

Carr said the company is also looking at tearing down the rectory and constructing a building with about 30 apartments targeted to renters ages 55 and older, and constructing another building on the current parking lot with about 30 units.

These other two projects would be phased in later as the market dictates, he said.

Apartments would measure about 600-800 square feet, he said.

The completed three-phase project would exceed allowable density of apartments by city zoning, which allows a property of that size to contain 18 standard apartments or 27 apartments in a facility for seniors or people with disabilities.

For Hardypond Construction to move forward with its project, it needs the City Council to approve a contract zone allowing the higher housing density. Carr said the company will also be asking the city to allow a lesser number of parking spaces than required by zoning.

Hardypond Construction is hosting a community meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at Saco City Hall to discuss the proposal and answer questions.

Saco Economic Development Director William Mann said he liked that the developer was engaging neighbors in discussion.

He said neighbors must be notified when a development like this is proposed, but the developers are not required to hold a public forum.

“I think their approach is very commendable,” said Mann.

Mann said Cutts Avenue could attract people who want to be in close proximity to a pharmacy, grocery store, banks and restaurants, and in turn, more people living in the area would boost activity downtown. He also noted that it would bring a currently tax-exempt property onto the city’s tax roll.

“I think this could be a really nice reutilization of that property,” said Mann.

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