BELFAST – After several years in limbo, the former Peirce Elementary School building will be offered for sale at a public auction, August 28.

The building was an elementary school from the time of its construction in 1915 until 2003, when it was replaced, along with two other schools, by the Captain Albert Stevens School.

The Peirce School was subsequently home to The Walsingham Academy (later Belfast Christian School), which operated out of the building for two years. The city sold the building in 2007 to William Ryan based on his proposal to open the Belfast Academy of Music as a nexus for local music instruction. The school opened to great fanfare but never took off and Ryan closed the doors in 2011 citing financial difficulties.

City officials passed over a buyback option in the original deed, reasoning that the old school would find a better use on the private market. City Manager Joe Slocum noted at the time that the property was zoned for certain uses. The city could also enter into a contract rezoning agreement with a buyer interested in a non-conforming use and maintain influence in that way, he said. 

Last fall, a banner appeared on the side of the building and a website advertised the property for sale, though these attempts were apparently unsuccessful.

Early this year, James McClelland, who funded the original purchase of the building, foreclosed on Ryan and after a 90-day redemption period expired with appeal was given possession of the building in May.

In an e-mail McClelland said he plans to sell his $326,000 interest in the property for $220,000 prior to the auction.

Though he is ostensibly the sole owner of the building, McClelland noted that there may be outstanding liens or other interests.

The 11,000 square foot building at the corner of Church and Elm street will be auctioned by the Keenan Auction Company, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m.

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Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com