By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

The Saco Code Enforcement Office last week issued a demolition permit for the Bay View Convent despite an ongoing historic review by the Historic Preservation Commission.

Code Enforcement Officer Dick Lambert said he issued a demolition permit April 6 to the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They signed a purchase agreement last year with Estates at Bay View LLC, which wants to raze the building to make way for single-family homes.

“There is nothing in the ordinance that stays demolition while the building is under review,” Lambert said.

Lambert said the local historic preservation ordinance requires a six-month wait for permits in the historic district or on properties designated as historic. The convent is not in the historic district.

The preservation commission currently is conducting a review of the building to determine its local historical significance. It must pass its findings to the city council in a report within the next six months but likely will make a recommendation sooner given the “bordering on urgent nature” of the situation, according to City Planner Bob Hamblen.

Hamblen said the commission met last week with Christopher Closs of Maine Preservation. He is an expert in historic architecture and his professional guidance was helpful to commissioners, he said.

Developer Tim Swenson of Estates at Bay View was granted a contract zone by the city council earlier this year, which allows for the creation of 14 lots on the site. The developer must submit a site plan and subdivision application to the planning board for approval. Hamblen said these reviews could come before the planning board as soon as early May.

The Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary bought the property in 1948 and immediately began renovating the main building. Built in 1872 as Bay View House, the property also was known as Ocean Crest Manor before it became a convent.

Sr. Cecile Labrecque told the preservation commission last month the house consisted of four buildings juxtaposed to form one large summer hotel. Each of the buildings was constructed in a different era and is no architectural significance, she said.

The sisters moved to Saint Joseph Convent in Biddeford in January 2009 and the large house in Saco has been empty for about 15 months, said Sr. Claire Lambert. The building has asbestos throughout its 52,000 square feet and is does not make economic sense to renovate the structure, according to the sisters.

Lambert, the code enforcement officer who is not related to Sr. Lambert, said the demolition permit has conditions attached to it that include requiring all asbestos removal to adhere to state and federal regulations.

The demolition permit may be subject to an appeal. Lambert said resident Christopher Di Matteo has filed an appeal of the permit with the zoning board of appeals. The city attorney has indicated Di Matteo may instead need to file the appeal with the city council, which could consider the issue in a few weeks, he said.

Hamblen said City Attorney Tim Murphy is looking at the ordinance code to determine if the permit can be appealed and who has the authority to do so. Because the commission acts as an advisory board to the council it cannot stop demolition.

“I honestly don’t know if there’s any tool at their disposal that would allow them to slow or stop this demolition permit,” Hamblen said.

In the meantime, the property owners are authorized to go forward with demolition, Lambert said.

Sr. Lambert said it is a relief to “finally be moving forward and not be concerned about property that’s been vacant for 15 months.” She said the sisters are eager to move forward with their lives and “focus on what’s important” with other ministries.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.