LEWISTON — The organizers behind the effort to create Androscoggin County’s first 24-hour shelter are looking at alternate locations amid extended negotiations to purchase the former Schemengee’s Bar & Grille. The initial goal of opening the shelter by fall appears in doubt.

Kaydenz Kitchen, the nonprofit selected by the city to operate the new shelter, has been in negotiations to purchase the Schemengee’s building on Lincoln Street, where the group ran a temporary warming center this past winter.

However, negotiations on the purchase price of the building have taken longer than expected as the city works toward a goal of readying a 24-hour, low-barrier shelter in time for this winter.

During a fall news conference at Schemengee’s Lincoln Street site, which was one of two locations in Lewiston where a mass shooting occurred in October 2023, MaineHousing awarded a $2.5 million grant to Kaydenz Kitchen for acquiring and renovating a shelter location. Those behind the effort had eyed the Lincoln Street building as the ideal site.

Kevin Boilard, founder and director of Kaydenz Kitchen, would not comment last week on the negotiations with the owners of Schemengee’s, but confirmed this week he is exploring alternate options.

“We’re still in negotiations at 551 Lincoln St., (but) at the same time we have found a potential alternative location that we’re considering,” he said.

Craig Saddlemire, chair of the city’s shelter committee, said “real estate negotiations are ongoing” for the shelter, but he was not available for further comment Friday.

Early this year, Boilard told the City Council that the market value of Schemengee’s was $1.7 million. Its assessed value, according to the city, is $370,770.

With more political support and funding in place for a 24-hour shelter, the city has been pursuing a fall 2025 opening for a shelter that would be the first of its kind in Androscoggin County, providing wrap-around services, coordinated entry assessments, housing navigation, connection to service providers, and 24-hour access for shelter users.

Lewiston has six shelters, including one for youth and one for victims of domestic violence. However, none are open during daytime hours and they are not considered “low-barrier” due to requirements such as participation in religious services.

If the permanent shelter isn’t on track to be ready by the time cold weather arrives, the city has an option agreement with Kaydenz Kitchen to operate the winter warming center for another year. In order for the center to remain at Schemengee’s, Kaydenz Kitchen would need a new lease agreement, Boilard said.

When asked if the lengthy process to finalize the location could delay the project, Boilard said his goal is to secure a location within the next 30-60 days.

Given the delay, he’s hoping that, if all goes smoothly, the new shelter could be up and running by Jan. 1, with the chosen location serving as the temporary warming center in the late fall or early winter until the permanent shelter operation is ready.

“That’s basically our biggest concern right now,” Boilard said.

Boilard said he “needs to keep the ball rolling very aggressively” and that MaineHousing also expects those involved to act quickly to use the funds and address the need in the community.

Scott Thistle, spokesman for MaineHousing, said the agency has “to sign off on the transaction to make sure public funding is spent on an appropriate building at an appropriate price.”

When reached Friday, Mayor Carl Sheline said he’s grown concerned about the coming winter and securing a shelter location.

“Finding a building is the first step in this process, and I’m concerned about this dragging on too long,” he said. “Establishing a 24/7 shelter for our unhoused neighbors to provide them with assistance to find permanent housing and employment remains a top priority.”

Ward 1 Councilor Josh Nagine said Friday that based on this past winter, there is a need for a warming center operation “regardless of how quickly” the permanent shelter is opened. Many nights there were 80 to 90 people staying at the 551 Lincoln St. warming center.

But, he said, he knows people who care about Lewiston’s long-sought goal of opening a 24-hour shelter “are concerned” about the progress.

“The quicker we get the shelter up and running the better,” he said.

Shelters in Lewiston are considered a conditional use and must be approved by the Planning Board and City Council.

Lewiston’s shelter effort comes at a difficult time for shelters across the state. Early this month, leaders of York County’s only homeless shelter, which housed up to 65 people, closed the shelter after saying they could no longer cover the cost of operations.

In early May, Kaydenz Kitchen wrapped up operations at its winter warming center and the organization has been able to secure at least some funding toward shelter operations this coming winter. The city of Lewiston budgeted $400,000 toward the shelter operation, and Boilard said Auburn has budgeted $200,000 toward shelter and warming center operations, but has not yet specified where those funds will go.

Boilard had initially requested $400,000 from each city and from Androscoggin County government toward the new shelter. Officials have been clear that the funding will come with stipulations based on several factors, including how the funds will be used, and have also said Boilard will have to secure other types of funding for future operational costs.