LEWISTON — The historic St. Joseph’s Church on Main Street is for sale by Central Maine Healthcare. 

The health care organization purchased the building in 2013 and twice changed plans for the future of the former Catholic church. Now under new leadership, CMHC has it on the market for $395,000. 

Ericka Dodge, vice president of public affairs for Central Maine Healthcare, confirmed Tuesday that the building is for sale. It’s listed by Portland-based The Boulos Company. 

Central Maine Healthcare bought the church and the adjacent buildings at 257 Main St. for $125,000 in May 2013 and filed an application to demolish the building two months later. The parent company of Central Maine Medical Center withdrew its demolition plans in August 2013 to look for alternative uses.

In November 2015, hospital officials were still touting plans to restore the church. 

Asked what led to the decision to sell the property, Central Maine Healthcare Communications Director David Landau said, “We put the building up for sale because we’re a health care system, and our focus is on delivering high-quality patient care and serving the health care needs of our communities.” 

He said the acquisition of the property predated his tenure with the organization and he is unaware of previous plans for uses of the church building. 

The church was built in 1855, placed on the National Historic Register in 1989 and decommissioned by the Catholic Diocese in 2009.

The original buildings on the property included the Victorian and Gothic-themed church and the three-story, Victorian-style rectory. The rectory was demolished in 2015.

Drew Sigfridson, the listing broker for Boulos, said that under CMHC ownership, the hospital “made some significant roof repairs to the church … but they have not made renovations to the interior of the building.” 

He said there has been some interest from potential buyers looking for possible conversion to office or residential uses.

“We have also had some religious groups express interest in the property,” he said. 

Boulos began marketing the property in June. Sigfridson said the company has “had several showings and inquiries, but we have not received any offers yet.”

According to the Boulos property listing, St. Joseph’s was the first Catholic church constructed in Lewiston. 

The church is listed at 12,750 square feet, with a 9,000-square-foot ground floor and 3,750-square-foot expanded balcony. The listing calls the church an “excellent redevelopment opportunity for a wide range of retail, service, financial, professional, entertainment or appropriate residential uses.” 

arice@sunjournal.com 

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