Westbrook Development Corp. has broken out of the city’s boundaries for its latest purchase – a former school in Portland.
At the end of October, the developer affiliated with Westbrook Housing purchased St. Patrick’s School on Congress Street.
According to John Gallagher, executive director of Westbrook Housing, the two-story, 15,000-square-foot school will be converted into 15 affordable condominiums.
Westbrook Development purchased the property for $580,000 and hopes to sell the condos for between $100,000 and $150,000. The developer still needs a contract zone from the city of Portland before it can start construction, which is slated for the spring. Gallagher said he hopes to have the condominiums on the market next fall.
This is the corporation’s first development in Portland, but it may not be its last.
“Our mission is to find properties we can acquire, build and rehabilitate” to turn into affordable housing, said Dick Begin, senior housing officer for Westbrook Development Corp. and Westbrook Housing. If that means going beyond the city’s lines, that’s OK, he said.
Gallagher said they’re not about to start looking in Bangor, though – they try to stay within 10 miles of their offices.
Both Gallagher and Begin said it’s important that they work with the community where they’re developing housing if it’s outside of Westbrook and make sure they’re not stepping on anyone’s toes.
Gallagher said Portland Housing Authority hasn’t taken issue with the new development, which he said is in a prime location because of its proximity to public transportation lines. He said the city of Portland has been looking to add more affordable housing off the peninsula.
“Even the neighbors really liked the idea,” he said.
According to Gallagher, there’s still more than $1 million in renovations to be done, including installing individual heating systems, bathrooms and kitchens.
“We try to make the units a little bit unique,” he said.
Gallagher said Westbrook Development has looked at purchasing Portland locations before – namely an old convent on Stevens Avenue, not far from the school building.
Gallagher said he’s been pursuing St. Patrick’s School since the spring. According to Begin, whose daughter attended the school, St. Patrick’s was built in 1922. As enrollment declined, he said, it consolidated with St. Joseph’s School two years ago and is now known as St. Brigid School, which is located on Stevens Avenue.
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