The future of the building formerly known as the Wiscasset Primary School was on the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen’s agenda at their July 7 meeting.
The school is not yet on the market, but the property already has an interested buyer.
Desiree Bailey, owner of Possibilities Salon on Gardiner Road, would like to turn the former school into a health, fitness, and beauty facility.
Bailey outlined her plan for the site in a presentation to the board. It will be a place for people to go to have their mind, body, and soul pampered, Bailey said. It will also serve as an education center with an internship program, Bailey said.
Selectman David Cherry asked if the facility would be tax exempt if it had an educational purpose. According to Bailey, if the facility
was tax-exempt its benefit to the town would outweigh lost property tax revenue, due to the job opportunities it would create.
According to Bailey, Wiscasset Primary School, which has an assessed value of $6,622,000 million and a total acreage of 32.68 acres, has been exempt from taxes since it was built in 1973.
Selectmen said they plan to put the property out to bid. Sherri Dunbar, of Durham Realty, has been hired to help the town in the process of selling the property.
Parks and Recreation Director Todd Souza inquired about the possibility of retaining some of the school’s land to protect the trails on the property.
The selectmen asked Dunbar to work with Souza to determine how much acreage will be needed to insure the trails will not be cut off.
In other business, Souza provided an update on work being done to upgrade the middle school playground. The playground will be closed to the public as the renovations are completed.
Souza also announced repairs will be made to the high school track. The track will be closed from July 13 to 27 while it is resurfaced.
