Portland Stage, a fixture in Portland’s arts district for nearly 40 years, issued a statement Monday saying it supports the city’s decision to consolidate its public health and social services programs in a single building at 39 Forest Ave.

But the city’s decision has led the Maine College of Art to evaluate its plans to locate a student residence hall next door. MECA raised concerns about student safety after learning of the city’s plan.

Members of the City Council voted unanimously May 17 to enter into a 20-year lease for the two-story Forest Avenue building effective June 1st. Five people spoke at the virtual public hearing. The speakers did not include Portland Stage or the Maine College of Art.

But on Monday, Portland Stage posted a statement supporting the move on its website.

“Portland Stage supports the city’s decision to move its Health and Human Services to 39 Forest Avenue. In April, we had the opportunity to meet with Portland’s Mayor Kate Snyder and Councilor Mark Dion, who sits on the committee that was reviewing the move and the HHS leadership team,” the statement said. “Based on our collaborative conversations at that time, Portland Stage’s Board of Directors voiced their support for the project. We look forward to working with the HHS leadership team to ensure that everyone in our community feels welcome on our block. Portland Stage wants Portland to be not only a leading cultural center but also a leader in recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual in our community. We look forward to building synergies between our organizations,” the statement said.

The statement was signed by Darrell Pardy, president of Portland Stage’s board of directors, and Anita Stewart, Portland Stage’s executive and artistic director.

Last month, Stewart wrote a letter to the editor stating Portland Stage’s concerns about the lack of outreach by the city and a failure to engage the neighborhood’s stakeholders about the proposed move before it was made public. But after meeting with the mayor and city officials, Stewart said in an interview Monday night, she feels much more comfortable with the city plan.

“It seems like a really great fit,” Stewart said, adding that Portland Stage is gearing up for a full season of performances in August and September. Portland Stage is located at 25A Forest Ave.

Last month, the Maine College of Art announced it was planning to convert a 108-year-old, six-story office building at 45 Forest Ave into a new student residence hall located next door to Portland’s new public health and social services center. College officials and the developer cited safety concerns and called on the city to slow down its plan.

“I want to be clear that MECA is 100 percent supportive of HHS and its mission; the college is committed to developing a culture of social change, racial justice, and inclusion, and supporting community organizations whose missions are aligned with ours,” MECA President Laura Freid said in a statement last month. “We are also concerned about the safety and well being of our students and the impact the planned relocation of some of these services may have. These two statements are not mutually exclusive.”

After the college expressed safety concerns, students criticized MECA’s administration, claiming statements about Portland’s plan to consolidate services near a proposed dorm reflect classism and disrespect people experiencing homelessness.

Beth Elicker, MECA’s executive vice president, in an email Monday night said the city’s decision to consolidate services at 39 Forest Ave. has led the college to evaluate its options for the residence hall project. Elicker declined to elaborate further.

“Several of us at MECA have been part of productive conversations and meetings with the city staff, council members and community members since the decision to consolidate and relocate HHS services was announced last month,” Elicker said. “We are supportive of HHS’s mission and service to the Portland community. We are currently in the process of evaluating several options for our proposed student residence and expect to make a determination shortly.”

Jonathan Culley of Redfern Properties, has said he purchased the former New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. building at 45 Forest Ave. and is partnering with MECA to convert it into a 180-student dorm. The historic restoration, estimated to cost $15 million, would include a cafeteria, classrooms and lounge space on the first floor and could be ready for occupancy in fall 2023.

Culley could not be reached Monday.

Health and Human Services officials pushed for the consolidation plan because it would allow the city to move programs out of City Hall and cramped leased spaces at 103 India St. and 196 Lancaster St. The India Street Public Health Center and the General Assistance office would be among the programs relocated to 39 Forest Ave. The city said it will provide staff and clients an accessible, central site on the Portland peninsula that should improve staff collaboration, reduce barriers to obtaining vital services, increase organizational efficiency and allow programs to expand.

The new space would house public health programming, including the needle exchange, STD/HIV testing and the Portland Community Free Clinic, which provides health care to low-income people. It would not include an emergency shelter, though it would provide initial intake services for people seeking shelter.

Part of the new space will house a homeless shelter diversion program, similar to one at the Pine Street Inn in Boston. New arrivals to the shelter would register at the Forest Avenue location. Staff will attempt to resolve disputes between clients and landlords, enroll clients in prevention case management or attempt to reunite individuals with family members, rather than sending them to the city’s emergency shelter.