Tonya Sands unloads some of the 4,800 pounds of food delivered earlier this year to the Trinity Jubilee Center at 247 Bates St. in Lewiston. The center is planning a move from the basement of the church it’s called home since 1991. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — The Trinity Jubilee Center, a provider of food, shelter and other resources to more than 1,000 people a week, is looking to move out of its longtime home in the basement of the Trinity Episcopal Church on Bates Street.

But, according to a City Council decision last week, the organization may not be moving far.

The City Council voted unanimously to approve the sale of a section of 60 Park St. to the center — land next to the Oak Street parking garage that’s currently additional parking. The property is referred to by officials as the “Bates Street parcel” due to its location on the Bates Street side next to a popular bus stop.

City Administrator Heather Hunter said the organization has tried several parcels in its hunt for a new, expanded space, and the Bates Street parcel is within walking distance of their existing services.

Erin Reed, executive director of the Jubilee Center, said as its programs have grown over the years, “space has become a big challenge.”

“We have run out of space to store food for our soup kitchen and food pantry and store winter gear for our resource center,” she said. “Our free clinic is operating out of a closet. We have no space for clients to meet privately with their caseworker, and we have no lobby so clients line up outdoors for help.”

Advertisement

Reed said the organization would like to be able to grow programs, as well as add a public restroom, laundry and showers for homeless people.

During the council discussion last week, Hunter said part of the negotiations on the property have included offering public restrooms during the center’s hours of operation. Over the past few years, the city has explored options for offering public restrooms in the downtown area, but has not moved forward due to the expense.

The Jubilee Center has been operating out of the basement of the Trinity Episcopal Church since 1991. Last year, the organization was involved in talks to renovate and expand the church into a community center called Trinity Commons. Plans included renovating the upper level as a performing arts, meeting and classroom space, while expanding the center’s lower level space.

Erin Reed, executive director of Trinity Jubilee Center. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal file photo

However, according to Reed, due to the historic building’s small footprint, there was no way to expand it enough to make the already-complicated renovations work.

“It is bittersweet, leaving a place that has been our home for 31 years, but we’ll be able to provide so many more services in a larger space,” she said.

Reed said the center also needs basic life safety upgrades like handicap access and ventilation.

“Trinity Jubilee does good work in our community, and I’m looking forward to them being able to offer increased services,” Mayor Carl Sheline said following the council’s unanimous vote.

According to a city memo, the purchase price for the parcel is $30,000 with the Jubilee Center agreeing to pay “the full cost associated with the parcel subdivision” as well as creating the public bathroom facility.

The memo states the approval is subject to a positive recommendation by the Planning Board, after which a purchase and sale agreement would be signed.

The Lewiston City Council signed off last week on selling a piece of its property at 60 Park St. to the Trinity Jubilee Center. Google image

Related Headlines


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.