It’s been more than 15 years since the Town of Sanford renovated the Anderson Learning Center with federal funds, and it’s been the home of several nonprofit entities since then. Now the town has made moves to pursue selling the building, and though the process has been a bit contentious, it seems like the right move at the right time.
For now, the learning center provides an important community service as an affordable space for nonprofit entities like the school department and Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission. The Sanford Springvale Development Corporation has been managing the center well and has $45,000 available for repairs. Though not all tenants are paying market rates, the center is self-sustaining, according to the SSDC. However, the school department is likely to move out within a few years when a new high school is constructed that will include space for the adult education and other programs. Since they’re a major tenant, now seems like the right time to pursue the sale process for the building, before the town is left with a mostly vacant space and not enough income to support its maintenance.
The reason the town is considering unloading the building now is because it finally can, since the 15-year waiting period after using federal money is now over. The learning center was once the library of Nasson College, which went bankrupt in the 1980s.
Some councilors seem to believe it’s high time to unload the building and have said they believe the town shouldn’t be in the rental business, while others are concerned that by providing space below market rate they’re unfairly undercutting other property owners in town. Those are valid concerns, and renting space opens the town up to some liability issues.
Councilor Anne Marie Mastraccio said the town purchased the building for its current use with a mission of having it stabilize the neighborhood, a goal she believes it accomplished.
The town should proceed with caution, however. If hosting nonprofits helped stabilize the neighborhood around the center, hosting other uses might have the opposite effect ”“ so the town must be careful when it eventually comes time to go through with the sale. Perhaps tightening zoning restrictions to guide future use of the building would give residents there some peace of mind.
It should also be considered that some of the nonprofits that use space in the learning center building can’t afford market rates and will need some support from the town to find another location if the new owner isn’t willing to continue their current arrangement. Those organizations, which provide important services in the area, should not be put out because Sanford changed its mind about wanting to be in the landlord business.
Though councilors voted to have the property subcommittee move ahead with seeking appraisals of the building, there’s still a long road ahead in the process, and the council will have the final say on whether or not to sell. Finding a buyer will most likely take a good, long time in this market anyway.
The town made good use of the building and the federal funds that went to fix it up these past 15 years and now is the time to pursue a sale ”“ when the building is in good shape and it’s known that a major tenant will be leaving. Although it will eventually inconvenience the nonprofits that use the center, the council is making the fiscally prudent choice for its taxpayers in this instance, since major improvements such as a new roof would quickly deplete the $45,000 reserve.
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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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