LEWISTON — DaVinci’s owner Jules Patry will take over the four-st0ry building on the southern edge of Courthouse Plaza.

City councilors Tuesday approved a sales agreement with Patry for the 84 Lisbon St. building. Patry plans to renovate the upper floors for residential space and use the street-level of the building for commercial space.

According to the agreement, Patry will pay the city $50,000 for the property.

Lewiston purchased the building  in 1999 and planned to raze it to clear space for the Courthouse Plaza. Once two adjacent buildings were razed, however, they found they had more than enough space and the four-story building was allowed to stand.

This is the city’s second attempt to develop the building. LA Arts leased the building from the building from the city in 2001, pledging to raise $1.2 million to renovate the building, build a new elevator and help fix up nearby Courthouse Plaza. The arts group had planned to make the ground floor an art gallery and the second floor offices.

The arts agency ended their effort in April 2006, after spending $240,000 for renovations that included roof reparis, electrical work and building an elevator shaft.

The city began taking bids for new tenants on the property in July 2006, and the building has been left sitting vacant ever since.

According to a joint development agreement between Patry and the City, Patry will pay the city $2,500 earnest money within 90 days. He agrees to replace the building’s windows, clean and repair the outside stucco and install security lighting outside within six months. The city has the option of buying the property back for $50,000 if Patry does not meet those obligations.

The city agrees to give Patry easement across city-owned alleys and help settle all title issues and questions about the lot’s boundaries.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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