The Notre Dame de Lourdes Church at 20 Cutts Avenue has seen many changes over the last 110 years, much like Saco itself. Built as a Baptist church and theater in 1910, by the late 1920s, the parish was reestablished as a Catholic Church, largely due to the influx of Franco-American mill workers to the area. In 1929, a school was added and it operated for 22 years in the church loft, attic, basement and convent. For over eighty years, the church served the needs of the community, however, a dwindling congregation led to the eventual cessation of its Sunday services and the last Sunday Mass was performed in 2009. For nearly a decade, the church, a handsome vernacular building with a striking rose window, sat idle, albeit still open for prayer. In 2013, the city of Saco proposed to buy the building and demolish the structure for a parking lot. Thankfully, the City revised its plan and in 2017, the structure was purchased by Cutts Avenue Apartments LLC for its conversion into apartments.
Converting a 100-year old church into 19 unique apartment units is no easy feat and Cutts Avenue Apartments worked in tandem with Hardypond Construction, Shields Architecture, Base Design Group and the City of Saco to ensure that the design of the Cutts Avenue Apartments did not diminish the historic character of the church.
The careful rehabilitation of the former Notre Dame de Lourdes married the needs of an apartment building while keeping the defining features of the church. This work included the demolition of the rectory which was determined to not be a character-defining feature in order to create a mandatory elevator shaft, the addition of five roof dormers, and creating 3 floors of rooms within the sanctuary. The existing timber frame roof trusses were used and much of the original character of the building remains. The existing windows were retained where possible and the stained-glass windows were re-purposed in interior walls. The main stained-glass window was saved and protected in place. The wood from excess pews and paneling was used everywhere it could be to continue the historic feel throughout the building while also minimizing the need for new materials. The third-floor apartments have original detail painting on the ceiling that was discovered and retained. The building exterior was returned to its artistic wood siding and historic colors, enhancing the appearance of the street.
The Cutts Avenue Apartments marry the 100-year-old look of a historic building with modern amenities, all while bringing vibrancy to the City of Saco. The conversion of the church into apartments is symbolic of the changing face of Saco itself. Once, a mill town, the city, along with its neighbor Biddeford, is looking to its future as a cultural and economic center in southern Maine. The Cutts Avenue Apartments play a part in this transformation -offering a unique housing experience to a new generation of Saco residents while honoring the city’s storied past.
Project Participants
Bob Gaudreau, Cutts Avenue Apartments, LLC
Deirdre Wadsworth, Hardypond Construction
John Shields, Shields Architecture
Nate Bacon, Base Design Group
Chris Closs, Maine Preservation
