SACO — An accountant is eyeing the recently vacated train station office space.

The Biddeford+Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently moved to a new location, vacating 2,480 square feet of office space in the Saco Transportation Center.

In February, the city sought proposals for the space, and Gary Hammond, of Hammond & Dargis Certified Public Accountants, was the only respondent.

At a workshop Monday night, Hammond told the city council that he currently works out of an office in Biddeford, and would like to move his office to Saco, where he is a resident.

“I just think it’s a great setting for a professional accounting firm ”“ brand new, high visibility ”¦ everything that we’re looking for,” he said.

Under the proposed agreement, the city would lease out the conference room, with scheduling done by the city’s parks and recreation department.

Hammond said he wouldn’t need to make many changes to the space, and said if he rents the office, he might install a cubicle area in the rear.

Councilor Eric Cote said he liked Hammond’s lease proposal.

Under the terms of the proposal, the accounting firm would pay $2,000 a month in rent for five years, plus $100 a month for heat, hot water and electricity.

The accounting firm would require seven parking spaces for staff. It would also require four to five customer spaces during tax season, and two to three client spaces the rest of the year, according to the proposal.

The accounting firm’s administrative staff would be available during business hours to address any “routine inquiries” people at the train station may have, according to the proposal.

Councilor Kevin Roche asked if the activity in the train station would be distracting to the accounting firm. Hammond said he didn’t foresee it as a problem, as the accountants would have offices away from the lobby.

The council will vote on whether to approve the proposal at a later date.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].