LEWISTON — Developers of a housing program for homeless veterans hope to offer more private rooms when they open this summer.

Vincent Perrone, president Veterans, Inc. based in Worcester, Mass., asked city councilors to change zoning around the old St. Joseph’s School at 393 Main St. to allow more single-occupant efficiency rooms.

“It’s always our preference to put men in individual properties so they can have some modicum of privacy and dignity, rather than having to share an apartment with five other strangers,” Perrone said.

Councilors had no problem with the proposal, voting unanimously to approve it on first reading. They’ll vote on it a second time March 19.

Renovations are under way, according to project coordinator Brenda Heller. Workers have finished removing asbestos from the building and are getting ready to begin construction of the residential units.

The company purchased the old St. Joseph’s School in July and announced plans to renovate it into transitional housing for homeless veterans.

The original plan would have had 20 beds spread among 11 dwelling units, even though the company would have preferred being able to offer private rooms exclusively.

“But that wasn’t what the zoning would allow,” he said.

They pressed through with plans for the 11 units, but decided to ask the city to change the zoning rules. The proposal would change the lot’s zoning from commercial business to downtown residential.

Veterans, Inc. operates seven other housing developments for veterans in Massachusetts and Vermont. Those range from an 85-bed men’s and women’s intake shelter in Worcester to a 10-bed transitional complex in Bradford, Vt.

This would be the company’s first property in Maine. The Lewiston shelter will be for men only.

St. Joseph’s School was one of three Lewiston parochial schools closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in 2006. The school originally opened in 1881 and had 180 students, from grades kindergarten through eight, when it closed in 2006.

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