NATHAN SZANTON, managing principal of the Szanton Company, delivers remarks Thursday at the grand opening ceremony for the Huse School Apartments in Bath.

NATHAN SZANTON, managing principal of the Szanton Company, delivers remarks Thursday at the grand opening ceremony for the Huse School Apartments in Bath.

BATH

A mixed-income apartment building created from the John E.L. Huse Memorial School building in Bath celebrated its grand opening Thursday, with more than half of its nearly 60 units already rented out.

The Szanton Company renovated the former Huse school into what is now called Huse School Apartments. The former school building is comprised of nearly 30 apartment units, with another 30 units built in a newly constructed wing added onto the original structure. Szanton says more than half of the apartments have already been rented out.

VISITORS EXPLORE the new Huse School Apartments, renovated from the former John E.L. Huse Memorial School in Bath.

VISITORS EXPLORE the new Huse School Apartments, renovated from the former John E.L. Huse Memorial School in Bath.

“The building had its challenges,” said Nathan Szanton, managing principal of Szanton Company, recalling when the building was first brought to his attention a few years ago.

“The windows were all boarded up. The paint was peeling. Rust was streaking down the sides. And recently, three vandals had bro- ken into the building and ransacked it. But at the same time, it had a lot of potential,” he said.

Many features from the school, built in 1942, were incorporated into the new design. In one model unit that was open Thursday for guests, the floor was the old gym floor, basketball court lines and all. The school’s stage has been remade into a common space with seating for tenants. The old gym scoreboard, trophies won by the school and original murals painted by students can be found while wandering the hallways. The company has even recreated the original John E.L. Huse Memorial School signage above the entryway.

On top of the remaining features of the old school, the Szanton Company has built modern-looking apartments with all the necessities. Szanton praised the design’s “elegant simplicity” and abundance of natural light let in from the large windows, designed to replicate the windows that used to light up the classrooms.

The Szanton Company has also built a brand-new playground that’s open to tenants and the public.

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“This is one fine example of a sustainable development project,” said Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, in her remarks at Thursday’s grand opening. “The reuse of this old school building helps to reduce sprawl. … This project preserves the character of our community and the neighborhood, and it saves resources that would have been needed had we started from scratch.”

Rent for the new units is income-based. For example, rent for a one-bedroom unit for an individual earning less than $25,000 per year would be $621 per month, while those earning above $30,000 would pay $995 per month. Two-bedroom and studio apartments are also available. The apartments’ rents include heat, hot water, wi-fi and parking.

“For far too many Mainers the price of safe, quality housing is beyond reach,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, in a statement read at the grand opening. “This beautiful complex will provide people of all incomes homes that they can be proud of. I’m especially pleased that this renovation gives new purpose to a historic building that has already been central to the community. Now it can continue to be so for many years to come.”

nstrout@timesrecord.com

Cost to renters

RENT FOR THE NEW UNITS is income-based. For example, rent for a onebedroom unit for an individual earning less than $25,000 per year would be $621 per month, while those earning above $30,000 would pay $995 per month.


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