METHUEN — The old Howe School has a new lease on life.
The school, at the intersection of Howe and Hampstead streets, has been converted into eight condominiums designed and priced for empty nesters and first-time home buyers.
Yesterday, city officials gathered with the developer and real estate agent at the site for an informal ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the complex.
"It was city-owned, in disrepair, and falling apart," said Stan DeRocher of Prudential Howe & Doherty of Andover, who is marketing the property.
He said the eight condos at the 11 Hampstead St. address are selling for $219,900 to $249,900, for people downsizing and first-time home buyers.
The two- and three-bedroom condos vary in size from 700 square feet to just under 900 square feet and have one to one and a half bathrooms.
"They are unique, with 11-foot ceilings," said DeRocher, who said the building was erected in 1914. The developer, local physician Sudarshan Chatterjee of New England Medical Associates, has been working on the $1.5 million project for about a year and has permits for another eight condos at an adjacent ball field. Northmark Bank of North Andover provided construction and buyer financing.
Mayor William Manzi and other local dignitaries attended the ceremony.
ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ
Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.
