The former Knights of Pythias Hall at 260 U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough is being redeveloped and expanded to become the new location for two wellness businesses.
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The former Knights of Pythias Hall at 260 U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough is being redeveloped and expanded to become the new location for two wellness businesses.
The Housing Initiatives of New England Corp. bought the property in 2023. Scott Milliken, the firm’s real estate development, asset management and special projects administrator, told Mainebiz the building was built in the early 20th century and had fallen into a significant state of disrepair.
“So we are thrilled to have been able to preserve it through an adaptive reuse that gives the property a new life in the heart of Scarborough,” Milliken said.
The company made a deliberate effort to respect the building’s historic character. The clapboards, shingles and trim were replicated from the original exterior, maintaining the architectural character of the former hall.
“Of course, the building also needed to be adapted to meet modern accessibility, life-safety and functional requirements,” Milliken explained.
“We wanted the finished building to feel like a restoration and continuation of an important Scarborough property and not a new building that happened to occupy the same site. While the envelope and systems are all new, the tin ceilings and original wood trim have been preserved inside. It's a cool mix of historical and modern finishes.”
Consigli Construction, based in Portland, managed the project, which was designed by Scarborough-based CWS Architecture + Interior Design.
Two new wellness businesses will move in soon
The new building is just over 5,600 square feet. Finish Strong Physical Therapy will open its second Greater Portland location in 2,300 square feet on the first floor.
The new office will be close to triple the size of the location on Portland’s Marginal Way, which opened in 2021. Matthew Somma, physical therapist and owner of Finish Strong, said he hopes to open the new Scarborough office in September, and expects to hire more staff in 2027.
“Scarborough gives us more expanded space to offer more advanced athletic testing and rehabilitation,” Somma said. “We plan to expand adult strength group opportunities and injury prevention for athletes.”
Rock Steady Boxing will take the second floor in Scarborough. The firm offers a non-contact, boxing-based fitness program designed for people living with Parkinson's disease, to help them work on strength, balance, coordination, agility and overall fitness.
Housing Initiatives of New England, which is based in Scarborough, and specializes in housing for independent living. The nonprofit owns 21 complexes in New Hampshire, Augusta, Saco and Scarborough, where it redeveloped the former Bessey School site into a total of 94 apartments for residents aged 55 and over.
