WATERVILLE — A plan to demolish St. Francis de Sales Church and build a 40-unit senior-housing complex has cleared a major step.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved more than $6.2 million in funding for the project, which aims to provide nondenominational housing for low-income people 62 and older. The department will also subsidize a percentage of each resident’s rent.

If the city planning board grants approval, the complex — dubbed St. Francis Apartments — could be ready in two years.

But it’s still too soon to say, said Mike Hebert, facilities manager for Corpus Christi Parish, an organization that owns seven churches in the greater Waterville area, including St. Francis de Sales. Plans for the housing complex are still in the formative stages.

For instance, it’s not yet clear whether the complex will consist of two 20-unit buildings or one 40-unit building.

Hebert said architect Ben Walter of CWS Architects in Portland is drafting conceptual drawings.

If planning and city approval comes together, however, the Corpus Christi Parish will sell St. Francis de Sales Church, 52 Elm St., to St. Francis Apartments corporation, a pending nonprofit organization to be established by the Diocesan Bureau of Housing in Portland.

The proposed corporation would manage the project and the property through a local board of directors.

David Twomey, treasurer of the Diocesan Bureau of Housing, said St. Francis Apartments would be the sixth such complex the bureau has sponsored in Maine. One example is Seton Village in Waterville.

Hebert said there’s a growing need for senior housing in central Maine.

“Seton Village has 140 units, and they have a continual waiting list of at least 90,” he said.

Doris Smith, business coordinator for Corpus Christi Parish, said she’s fielded inquiries from individuals interested in the proposed apartments.

“We’ve already received requests from some of our parishioners to be on a waiting list,” she said.

The Rev. Joseph Daniels, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, said a significant portion of the Waterville population is reaching an age when maintaining a home is increasingly difficult. Although St. Francis Apartments wouldn’t be an assisted-living home, the building’s upkeep and operations would be managed by about five employees of the complex.

And, the downtown location is ideal for seniors, Daniels said.

“It allows them to take advantage of available health care services, shopping, cultural events and to continue to participate in the life of our community,” he said.

Although the housing complex will ultimately help serve the mission of the parish, Daniels said, it will be difficult to demolish the 137-year-old church.

“The closure of any church is very sad,” he said. “It’s very difficult to end years of ministry, years of service, and the prayer and worship that has occurred in these sacred spaces.”

The potential demolition follows the recent closure of three other churches within the parish — Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Fairfield, St. Theresa’s Church in Oakland and St. Bridget’s Church in Vassalboro.

Daniels said three factors drove the decision to pare down the parish’s facilities. First, there is a shortage of priests in Maine and throughout the country.

“We have 56 active priests serving the entire state from Kittery to Fort Kent,” he said. “Our diocese extends 420 miles. We are one of the largest dioceses east of the Mississippi in geographic area.”

Second, the parish population is declining. And, the population is older, he said.

“Of our mass attendees, 70 percent are over the age of 50. About 30 percent are under the age of 50,” he said. “We annually celebrate 160 to 190 funerals. We baptize approximately 80 people each year.”

Third, the parish is facing decreases in revenue.

“As these buildings age, we will ultimately be faced with major capital projects and repairs that our parish will most likely not be able to complete.”

Hebert said the age of St. Francis de Sales Church spurred the parish’s decision to sell.

“Within two miles, we have three catholic churches,” he said. “This is the oldest one, and one of the most costly to upkeep of the three.”

The building had been on the market for four years to no avail, Hebert said. It’s most recent selling price was nearly $800,000.

Twomey said he wasn’t exactly sure what the agreed upon price is.

“I want to say it’s $375,000, less demolition costs,” he said.

Hebert said he doesn’t anticipate any difficulties from the city planning board.

“We did a preliminary presentation to the planning board last May, and everything went very well,” he said. “The city officials were excited about it. The planning board was in favor of it.”

Nonetheless, the planning board would need to see final plans before approval is granted, City Planner Ann Beverage said.

Hebert said St. Francis Apartments would be a tax-exempt corporation, but the city would be entitled to a percentage of revenue that is derived from rents.

“So it’s not strictly another nontaxable property in the city,” he said. “It’s technically nontaxable, but the city will receive revenue from it.”

Ben McCanna — 861-9239

[email protected]