Former Brunswick school to become affordable housing
Brunswick Town Council has given the green light to a developer’s plan that will turn the old Hawthorne School on Federal Street into a mixed‑use residential complex. The proposal, approved on Tuesday, will create 26 rental units—most priced for affordability—and will include a daycare or community space on the ground floor.
The council evaluated two proposals that had been put forward by a town task force, formed last year to study the future of the historic building. Bowdoin College suggested converting the school into housing for its faculty and staff, while Dooryard, a modular‑home company, offered a plan that would make units available to the broader public. Both proposals called for a community space and improvements to the property’s playground.
After deliberating, the council chose Dooryard’s design and will now begin negotiations with the company. A previous motion to postpone the decision did not pass, and the council moved forward with the developer’s vision.
“ I’d like to see as much affordable housing available to as much of the community as possible, rather than limiting it (to college staff),” said District 2 Councilor James Ecker. “The goal is to expand access for people from all walks of life.” The council’s decision aligns with the findings of a recent community survey, in which roughly 900 residents responded. The majority of respondents prioritized affordable housing and historic preservation. They also ranked a daycare facility as the top commercial use for the building and expressed a strong desire to keep the playground open to the public.
Dooryard’s proposal details 18 of the 26 units inside the former school building. These units will be priced at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), while an adjacent house that the company will build will contain eight units at roughly 100 % AMI. The ground floor will house a daycare that can serve up to 50 children, although the company has said it is open to alternative community uses for the space. In addition, the company plans to retain the current playground and add new equipment.
“We’re really excited about this project and the opportunity to breathe new life into this amazing building that’s the Hawthorne School,” said Kara Wilbur, Dooryard’s owner, during the Tuesday meeting. The company is offering $925,000 for the acquisition of the town‑owned property. Chrissy Adamowicz, the town’s project manager, noted that the purchase must be presented to the council for approval before it becomes official.
Construction is slated to begin shortly and the project is expected to wrap up in 2028.
The Hawthorne School has a long and storied history in Brunswick. Originally serving as the town’s high school, the building burned down in 1915 and was restored a year later. In the 1930s, it was converted into an elementary school and remained so until 2009, when it became a space for school administrative offices. The department moved out last year, vacating the building after relocating its offices to Coffin School.
The decision to redevelop Hawthorne School follows a recent similar project that saw the former Central Fire Station on Main Street transformed into a brewery and a set of affordable housing units.
With the council’s approval, Brunswick moves forward with a plan that blends historic preservation, community services, and accessible housing. The town now enters the negotiation phase with Dooryard, and residents can look forward to a revitalized Federal Street that will serve both the needs of families and the broader community.
