Curtain about to go up on new theater at Stevens Square complex

the entryway to a new community theater at Stevens Square in Portland

Photo / Courtesy of Developers Collaborative The new theater at the Stevens Square housing development is located inside the newly completed community center.

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By Tina Fischer

The newly renovated 480-seat Stevens Square Theater, in the former McAuley School for Girls on Stevens Avenue in Portland, is poised for its grand opening this week.

The theater will be the new home for the Good Theater company and is part of the modern 50,000-square-foot Stevens Square Community Center, which serves as the heart of a growing residential neighborhood geared to an active 55-plus community.

The 19-acre site was once home to the Sisters of Mercy convent, and is now under development by Portland-based Developers Collaborative, led by Kevin Bunker and Laura Reading. The team has already repurposed the historic Mother House into 88 senior apartments, 66 of which were priced below market rate.

Lewiston-based Hebert Construction has already built two 20-unit condominium buildings on the property and Bunker said the market-priced units sold quickly. Next up is the third of five total condo buildings to complete the development, dubbed Stevens Square at Baxter Woods. Bunker said more than half of those have already been pre-sold and he expects to break ground soon on building number three.

Portland-based Archetype Architects is the design team for the project.

The site abuts Baxter Woods and boasts walking trails, community gardens, enclosed parking, rooftop decks and a dog park. The community center which houses the new theater, is also home to a fitness center, pool, gymnasium (which hosts the Portland Winter Farmers’ Market) and a cafe. Other businesses in the center include a child care center, physical therapists, and an architecture firm.

Bunker noted the property also contains an historic chapel which has been repurposed for weddings and events.

Ed Gardner Real Estate is the broker on the condos.