Maine sells old courthouses in Sanford, Biddeford to turn into housing [Video]

Maine’s plan to turn former courthouses in Biddeford and Sanford into apartment buildings is moving forward after the state completed the sale of one of the properties earlier this month followed by a second one Monday.

State officials are in discussions to sell a third courthouse in York, though it’s unclear what the plans are for that location.

The sale of the three old courthouses was approved by the Mills administration and the Legislature last spring with the aim of addressing the state’s housing crisis by taking advantage of existing vacant space.

The Department of Administrative and Financial Services closed on the sale of the former Springvale District Court on Dec. 16, and closed Monday on the sale of the Biddeford District Court. In both cases, housing authorities in the communities purchased the buildings for $1 with plans to convert the courthouses into apartment buildings with units to be rented at affordable rates.

The department has also been in discussion with …