LEWISTON — An effort to establish a cooperative food market in the building occupied by the Lewiston Police Department was given a six-month extension last week following delays in the police relocation.

Organizers from the L-A Community Market, a $9.9 million project, say they have made progress toward the goal of opening a cooperative grocery store and food incubator space, but won’t be able to fully analyze the building condition and possible redevelopment until the Police Department has vacated. That move is expected to occur by the end of the month.

The city signed an 18-month option agreement with the L-A Community Market in January 2024 for the purchase of the Park Street building, with the ability to grant a six-month extension.

Rebecca Swanson Conrad, who serves as an adviser for the project between the L-A Community Market and the Cooperative Development Institute, said last  week that since the option agreement expires in June, the extension was needed. But, she said, those working on the project have made progress both with financing and in organizing the cooperative structure of the market.

Unlike traditional grocery stores, food co-ops are independently owned and operated by their members, who also typically receive discounts and have a say in how the co-op is run. Those involved have envisioned the project as a community food center, which in addition to a grocer would also feature a commercial kitchen and cold storage for local food entrepreneurs and community members.

Conrad said staff from the Cooperative Development Institute have taken the lead on “many facets of the predevelopment site work,” and have “moved the board forward through the many elements of owning and running a cooperative business, including finalizing the categories of membership in the co-op.”

The Lewiston Police Department headquarters at 171 Park St. is slated to become the Lewiston-Auburn Community Market, a cooperative grocery store and food incubator space. However, organizers say they won’t know the building condition and potential renovation outlook until the police department vacates the space this month. Sun Journal file photo

Nate Libby, director of economic and community development, told the City Council last week that since the option agreement was signed, the L-A Community Market has “made significant progress in securing financing for the $9.9 million project, which will provide space for local vendors, farmers and food entrepreneurs while fostering economic activity in the downtown area.”

With council approval April 1, the option term expires Jan. 3, 2026.

Conrad said the Police Department has allowed some building walk-throughs but the team has not been able to conduct a full site review.

“Once we can get in, we are prepared to quickly confirm a direction as part of our proposal to the city,” she said. “As you can imagine, purchasing the site is the next major step to turn the corner toward construction.”

The Police Department made the decision to relocate to Bates Mill No. 7 in 2022 following a study that identified several major issues with the Park Street building. Some were specific to public safety facilities, but the list of deficiencies also included poor ventilation. The station was built in 1986.

The idea of a community food center was first envisioned during the Choice Neighborhoods “transformation” planning, as a needed resource to promote healthy local foods.

When first proposing the idea of a community food center, staff from St. Mary’s Nutrition Center said they constantly receive requests from local organizations looking to use its kitchen, and that a larger commercial kitchen at the community market would allow for events, rentals and could serve as an incubator space for local businesses to test products.

The effort was originally in talks to move into the former Sun Journal building at 104 Park St., but was caught in the middle of a Lewiston Housing proposal to put a shelter there.