LEWISTON — The city will begin negotiations for the sale of the former Martel Elementary School after the City Council unanimously supported a proposal to redevelop the site into senior housing.

Over the last month, elected officials have been mulling three redevelopment proposals, and councilors said Tuesday that they each received overwhelming public feedback in support of a plan by the Lewiston Housing Authority and Avesta Housing that would turn the school into 44 senior housing units.

The school on the corner of Lisbon Street and East Avenue closed in 2019 as the school department was set to open the brand new Connors Elementary, and the site was transferred to city control.