LEWISTON — The City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to amend its agreement with Lewiston Housing Authority to allow more time for the demolition of the former Martel School, but some officials have grown impatient as the planned senior housing project moves ahead slowly.

Lewiston Housing has an option to acquire the three-story brick building at 860 Lisbon St., and has city approval to build 44 units of affordable senior housing, with the potential for more. The extension gives it until July 31 to complete the demolition. The original deadline agreed upon was June 1.

According to city staff, asbestos abatement is underway inside the building, with demolition expected to begin by mid-April. Staff said based on a demolition schedule provided by the contractor, St. Laurent & Son, the buildings should be down by June 1, “but the foundations will take more time to break up and remove.”

However, given prior delays, some councilors were skeptical of approving an extension for a project that has already been delayed several times, and questioned why no one from Lewiston Housing was on hand to discuss the details.

Lincoln Jeffers, director of economic and community development, said staff from Lewiston Housing had prior commitments and had requested the item be taken up during the council’s April 16 meeting.

Ward 1 Councilor Josh Nagine, the most critical of Lewiston Housing during the meeting, said he’s concerned by the fact that Lewiston Housing has still not secured financing for the project. According to a council memo, the organization is “actively seeking financing.”

Nagine proposed that a member of the council should be allowed to sit on Lewiston Housing’s board of directors.

“The fact that Lewiston Housing isn’t here right now is a bit of a disappointment given that they’re asking for an extension yet again,” he said. “I absolutely beg them to produce the senior housing we desperately need.”

Later on, Nagine said the process has taken so long that “at this point we could’ve bonded it and secured the funds.” He also supported tabling the issue in order to question Lewiston Housing officials in person.

Other councilors argued in favor of the extension to keep progress moving. Councilor Tim Gallant said even if the project doesn’t move forward, the demolition will result in an empty developable lot.

Members of the public also urged the council to approve the extension, despite concerns for the slow-moving project.

Lewiston resident Ronnie Paradis said the council “needs to vote for this” but also said Lewiston Housing needs to answer questions regarding the construction timeline.

“We really don’t have enough senior housing here in Lewiston and this is the first one to be built since I don’t know when,” she said. “It’s really depressing to me we’re not focusing on the seniors.”

Mayor Carl Sheline defended Lewiston Housing, saying the criticism for the project’s delays “doesn’t recognize all the delays the council has been responsible for.”

“We could have been a lot further along if there was more political will earlier,” he said, referring to the previous council, which at one point pursued developer John Gendron for a redevelopment.

However, after concerns from the Planning Board and public pressure for senior housing, the city again drafted an agreement with Lewiston Housing.

Referring to Nagine’s support of tabling the issue, Sheline also said, “We’re worried about delay and introducing more delay.”

The council vote was 6-1, with Nagine opposed.

According to a council memo, Lewiston Housing applied for highly competitive 9% low-income housing tax credits from the state in the fall, but did not get it. The organization applied for 4% low-income housing tax credits in late March.

Lewiston Housing officials have previously said that the timeline for construction — and the scope of the project over the next several years — would depend on the amount of funding secured through state low-income housing tax credits, which are awarded to a select number of projects annually.

Last year, the environmental review of the building found more asbestos than anticipated, upping the demolition costs. At that point, the city agreed to provide $200,000 toward the cost.

The current agreement states that if financing is not secured for phase one of the project within 24 months, the city can reacquire the property by reimbursing Lewiston Housing its costs, minus the $200,000 it provided for demolition.

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