FREEPORT (AP) — University of Southern Maine officials want to sell the John Calvin Stevens-designed Stone House in Freeport in an effort to cut costs at a time the entire state university system is dealing with budget struggles.

President Theodora Kalikow said in an email Monday “it no longer makes financial sense” to hold onto the property given maintenance costs and the fact it’s only used 40 days a year for the university’s creative writing master’s program.

The Portland Press Herald reports that it would cost $8.5 million to update the 10,000-square-foot facility, from updating the heating and septic systems, to making it accessible to the disabled.

Selling Stone House will save up to $110,000 annually.

The proposal must be approved by the University of Maine System trustees at their July meeting.



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