Tidewater Waldorf School buys new building on Route 236
ELIOT, Maine — The former day care on Route 236 has been purchased through foreclosure auction by the Seacoast Waldorf Association.
The association, doing business as Tidewater Waldorf School, purchased 403 Route 236 for $455,000 on Thursday, Dec. 21. The auction was conducted by Tranzon Auction Properties in Portland.
“The purchase of this million dollar property is nothing short of a Christmas miracle for our small nonprofit school, and really, for the entire Seacoast community,” said Deirdre McEachern, board chairwoman and a parent at Tidewater School. “It’s beautiful, it’s modern and it will allow us to expand enrollment, offering nature-based programs such as summer camps and open a door for community outreach — something we’ve been unable to do for so long.”
McEachern said once the school moves to the new site it will invite the community to learn more about the school and facility.
The property at 403 Route 236, formerly the Rainbow Country Day Learning Center, had been for sale for several months. According to the town assessor’s records, the property is worth $904,200. In February 2010, owner Denunzio Realty LLC took out a $760,000 mortgage on the property with TD Bank, according to register of deeds documents.
“I am so glad to see this property go full circle and back into a wholesome establishment that meets the criteria of what we want our town to look like,” said Mike Moynahan, chairman of Board of Selectmen. “It’s great to see a local nonprofit and good neighbor do so well in our community.”
McEachern said Waldorf education is the world’s fastest growing alternative educational movement and promotes good community citizenship, respect for the environment and rigorous academics taught through innovative methods.
“Amazingly some 20 years ago, the current Seacoast Waldorf Association was sparked by a Waldorf-themed kindergarten operating on this very piece of land. Somehow it’s all come full circle and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
McEachern said the Seacoast Waldorf Association was assisted in its purchase by Kevin Gray and Chris Kehl of Kennebunk Savings Bank, adding it would not have been possible without the pair’s “enthusiastic help and out-of-the-box creativity” with the mortgage arrangement.
Tidewater Waldorf School opened in 1999 and is presently located at the corner of Beech Road and Route 236 in Eliot. It serves 45 Seacoast area students from nursery through middle school. The school is accepting enrollment applications for next spring and fall. For more information visit www.tidewaterschool.org.
