Former Paris elementary school to be turned into senior affordable housing

Courtesy / Norway Savings Bank Former Fox School students and teachers join employees of Norway Savings Bank and Avesta Housing, including the president and CEO of each, in front of the former Fox School in Paris. Avesta Housing, which received a $20,000 donation from Norway Savings Bank, will convert the former elementary school into senior affordable housing with 12 studio and one-bedroom apartments.

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Norway Saving Bank has donated $20,000 towards a $3.1 million Avesta Housing initiative to turn a former school in downtown Paris into affordable housing.

The former Mildred M. Fox School will be converted in senior affordable housing with 12 studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Built in 1883 and expanded in 1940, the elementary school operated until 2008 as a public institution and until 2015 as a private charter school.

Avesta Housing bought the building in 2007 and began construction earlier this year after securing a number of investments, including $20,000 from Norway Savings Bank.

“Without the additional funding from private entities like Norway Savings, this project wouldn’t have gotten off the ground,” said Dana Totman, president and CEO of Avesta Housing, in a news release.

Patricia Weigel, president and CEO of Norway Savings Bank, added that the project is both “close to our hearts” and in the bank’s backyard.

“Members of our staff and customer base remember fondly their days at Fox School as students and teachers,” she said. “When you can help turn a vacant building into something the community desperately needs—affordable senior housing—it’s a win-win.”

Avesta plans to start taking applications for the apartments later this year, with occupancy slated for early 2019.