SACO — Fire engines and ambulances are no longer going in and out of the former central fire station on Thornton Avenue, but the character of the building remains, even as it enters a new stage as a commercial and residential building.

Developer Cynthia Taylor of nonprofit Housing Initiatives of New England purchased the building from the city in 2012 for $100,000. The city fire department vacated the building in 2011 to move into a newly built fire station on North Street.

The former fire station was built in the late 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Restoration of the former fire station is now nearly complete, and Taylor hopes to have the building 100 percent finished by July 15.

Body Strong, a personal training facility, is moving in next week on the first floor. Taylor is still seeking tenants for an office space on the first floor and another commercial space.

On the top floor, there are four apartments, one- and two-bedrooms, available for those 55 and older. They will be available for rent on Aug. 1, with monthly rental prices ranging from $1,500 to $1,850, plus utilities. Taylor said she doesn’t have any renters yet, but she has had inquires.

The outside of the building has been repointed, and brickwork on the top of the old garage bays, which had been altered to accommodate modern rescue vehicles, has been restored to its original arches. Windows with overlaying spindles on the old bay doorways match an original door on the side on the building.

The building is well-insulated, said Taylor, making heating economical, and LED lighting has been installed.

Remainders of the old fire station are throughout the buildings, including wood doors now used in apartment closets, bronze door thresholds and slate window sills.

An old trophy chest has been placed downstairs near an entranceway, and Taylor said she is hoping to get some memorabilia to put in it. Old circular lights that are no longer in use will be hung up as decorations.

“I like details,” said Taylor, who has restored several other buildings, including schools and a city hall for senior housing. “Working around the fabric of an old building is challenging.”

Taylor, who is vice president of Maine Preservation and has been in the historic restoration business for more than 30 years, said she enjoys giving old buildings new life.

Work to complete a rooftop patio is scheduled, and landscapers were planting flowers and greenery and laying down a brick walk way Thursday.

Taylor said she had to get permission from the city to put in a brick sidewalk. She wanted the brick because she said it’s symbolic of municipal buildings, like the city hall, which has a brick sidewalk.

“It says ”˜Saco,’” she said.

Taylor said she is looking for tenants who want to shop, bank and go out to eat downtown.

“My idea is to rent to people who really want a sustainable walking community,” she said.

Beth Johnston, co-owner of Vic and Whit’s wine shop on Main Street, said she is grateful for everyone who gave their support to the former fire station, and is thankful that it was not torn down to make way for a parking lot.

“I’m pretty ecstatic,” she said. “I want to jump up and down every time I walk past it.”

She said she’s happy the city found someone who understands the value of historic renovation.

“It’s exceeded my expectations,” said former mayor Mark Johnston, her business partner and ex-husband, who said he took a tour of the building. “She’s done an outstanding job.”

Johnston said the former fire station is one of a number of old buildings downtown with “integrity.”

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