WATERVILLE — Colby College has purchased another building in downtown Waterville, adding to the three properties the college has bought up in the past few months.
The newest purchase is 13-15 Appleton St. across the street from the Hains building and behind the Selah Tea cafe on Main Street. The property includes a two-story brick building that houses the Resurrection Life Church and an adjacent parking lot.
The college completed the purchase through a limited liability company earlier this week, said Ruth Jackson, Colby’s vice president for communications. Like other properties it has bought, Colby isn’t revealing precise plans for the building.
“These are part of a larger downtown plan, but the particular use is still under consideration,” Jackson said.
In the last four months, Colby has bought three blighted Main Street properties as part of a long-term revitalization project in downtown Waterville.
College officials envision a thriving downtown with residences for students and faculty, retail stores and restaurants. Colby students are envisioned as active members of the community, helping out in local charities and schools and getting knit tighter into the fabric of the community.
In July, the college bought the Hains building at 173 Main St. and the former Levine’s building at 9 Main St. In August, it bought 16-20 Main St., a building next to the Silver Street Tavern. Those buildings have been vacant for years and have been targeted for unsuccessful renovation efforts in the past.
While the college’s previous three purchases were vacant and blighted properties, the Appleton property was still being used as an active church before the college finalized the sale, Jackson said. The building was attractive because of its location across from the Hains building and its relationship to the broader downtown renewal project.
“The area of Main Street and Appleton is one that is deemed to be an important area for the revitalization effort,” Jackson said. “The opportunity presented itself, and we decided to move on it.” Jackson wouldn’t say whether the college is planning to buy more property in the city.
No one from the church responded to a voicemail left Saturday morning requesting comment on the sale.
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