The Timeline

for our new home in Biddeford

Meet Jim Godbout and Guy Gagnon – two heroes making the dream of a second location in a former church – a reality. Jim is a successful business owner with a penchant for taking on herculean volunteer renovations. He is managing the renovation of the church. Guy made the church happen by gifting it to MPTC via Biddeford Housing Authority.

A few years ago, Guy Gagnon, executive director of the Biddeford Housing Authority, saw some potential in the church and its adjacent buildings, including the former St. Andre’s School, which is now a senior residential center. The housing authority purchased the property from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in 2016. “The church was the last piece of the puzzle,” Gagnon said. “What’s happening there now is an eight-year dream come true.”

Please enjoy Jim’s Facebook musings and several news articles on this transformative renovation – see below:

Jim Godbout and Guy Gagnon

December 6, 2024
A little preview of what you will see at My Place Teen Center on Monday from 4-7:30 pm at 75 Bacon St. Biddeford. So many different people who made this a reality for the community. It will more than wow you. Thanks to all who participated.
November 13, 2024
Air-to-water heat pumps are cranking away at heating this old church at My Place Teen Center, with a little help from Viessmann boilers for entry areas.
November 1, 2024
We’re closing in on finishes with some unbelievable players pulling together some very difficult work. Hard to give thanks to all as the list is so long. Take a look at the magnificent floor uncovered by Jeff Martel — and cleaned up by Dustin Boucher, bringing back the 100-year-old floor. Brian Johnson and my team are working extremely hard to get sprinkler systems installed in the old church. Look for the open house on December 9th so the public can view the space. A big thanks to all who have helped. Jim and Sherman Thyng, Jake Pierson, Pierson Nursery, Biddeford Painting, Kim Cochrane, East Coast Electric, Kevin Bedard, Peter Petit, and so many more are making this happen for our youth in surrounding communities.
October 25, 2024
A touching presentation this morning at My Place Teen Center. There are so many people to thank, but a few have gone above and beyond. We can’t thank you enough. Our HEROES!
October 5, 2024
The Biddeford Football team is doing a little dust removal for us at My Place Teen Center this morning. Thank you very much for building a stronger community by working together as a team.
October 3, 2024
We are tremendously grateful for the help from Kevin Bedard, Nate Libby Masonry, Jeff Martel, BRC Roofing, and East Coast Electric. We are getting through one of the largest hurdles at My Place Teen Center in Biddeford. A fire suppression sprinkler is a very large job requiring a large fire pump and a lot of piping. Thanks, team. We are getting closer every day.
September 14, 2024
The generosity of people in Maine always strikes me. The Heritage Company completed historic roof repairs in copper and slate — 100’ up. They made huge donations towards the project, getting us closer to the finish line. Victor and the team are amazing craftsmen.
September 11, 2024
Jeff Martel and his son Dale are taking care of a messy project protecting 100-year-old steps at My Place Teen Center, the old St. Andre’s Church. They should go another hundred keeping ice and water away from stone.
September 6, 2024
More progress. Victor from Heritage Company viewed the damage on the roof — they have it back watertight ready for slate and copper repairs, and brought it back to its original craftsmanship. They are best in trade. The new sprinkler riser has been tested and is in place ready for the next phase.
July 26, 2024
MPTC inching closer and closer to the finish line, lots of details to clean up but looking great for the new teen center in Biddeford. Jeff Martel is doing an amazing job restoring the upper windows. Dustin Boucher putting some nice counters on for the Cassidy Petit welcome counter. Fire protection systems are the latest and final hurdle for the project.
June 22, 2024
MPTC is inching closer and closer to the finish line — lots of details to clean up but looking great. Thanks for all the help we have received. Jeff Martel is doing an amazing job restoring the upper windows.
May 24, 2024
Awesome job by volunteer 5th-grade students from Biddeford Middle School. They took another layer of dust off My Place Teen Center. Big thank you for the help. Teaching community to our youth is a very important value.
May 17, 2024
A nice group of students from Biddeford High School today helped clean MPTC — to bring the old St. Andre’s church back to life. It is always nice to engage them in the community. Getting some dust out is such a big help.
May 3, 2024
Tremendously creative workforce making things happen — even building custom dining tables (low-top and high-top) for youth to dine on. We took old parts from the church, using old kneelers and pews from 1908 when St. Andres was built. We sanded all the finishes off from over the years and created these tables. This was a cool project.
May 1, 2024
A little closer every day at My Place Teen Center in Biddeford. New floors make this place jump. A new elevator is being installed and mechanicals are being worked on to get us to the finish line.
February 21, 2024
St. Andre’s Catholic Church, during construction (circa 1909). Father Decary had the vision to build this church. He laid bricks alongside the Masons during construction. It was a beautiful church with an amazing interior design and some of the most beautiful stained glass windows.
February 14, 2024
Best way to heat an old 10,000 sq ft church and turn it into a comfortable My Place Teen Center. Gypcrete poured over radiant heated by air to water heat pumps and Viessmann boilers.
January 31, 2024
Updated photos of the transition from St. Andre’s to a beautiful place the community can be proud of. We are gaining ground with help from many. Radiant heating is starting now before the Gypcrete pour-over.
December 12, 2023
Transitioning the church to a community-based building is impressive, providing incredible space for our youth at My Place Teen Center. Many inspirational things are going on at 75 Bacon St. Biddeford.
December 1, 2023
With extreme patience and craftsmanship, Jeff Martel did some magnificent work to preserve the history of this old window at My Place Teen Center, St. Andres Church. Look at the before and after. To give you an idea of size, it’s sixteen feet across. Great job, Jeff Martel, working diligently to repair a massive window at My Place Teen Center, 75 Bacon Street Biddeford—a difficult task repairing rot from where the church removed the stained glass. Jeff is doing a great job rebuilding the 100-year-old frame. This building is a bear.
November 28, 2023 — MaineBiz Article 
Beyond Giving Tuesday: Here’s what 5 Maine nonprofit leaders have planned for 2024

Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to charitable causes around the globe, has been celebrated every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since 2012. To mark this year’s occasion, Mainebiz checked in with five Maine nonprofit leaders to see what they have planned for 2024. Here’s what they said. More

November 17, 2023
Updates from My Place Teen Center 75 Bacon St Biddeford have lots of fantastic help making things move. Pictures of steeple construction there for a few who were asking.This looks and smells so much better than six inches of pigeon poo. Also, it is so much more energy-efficient.
November 10, 2023
Lots going on today at My Place Teen Center in Biddeford. Big thanks to all the help from Anderson Insulation. It’s a lot of work to insulate the church. Other progress on windows painting and safety rails.
November 7, 2023 — Portland Press Herald Article
My Place Teen Center “money well spent” York County officials say during tour

The painters have begun their work at St. Andre Church on Bacon Street in Biddeford as part of a major renovation of the former house of worship to be home for My Place Teen Center. More

October 25, 2023
It takes an army of talented people to convert the old church from oil to natural gas and an air source heat pump. They got it done today. The highest efficiency from new equipment with the lowest Nox available uses Viessmann’s CI2 boilers with Lambda Pro 2 technology. Look at the test sheets at start-up. That’s awesome. Low-temperature heating with radiant and low-temperature radiators. Thanks to all New Viessmann boilers replacing undersized ones. Great job!
October 4, 2023
Nate Libby’s team is killing it, cleaning the front of old St. Andres Church and one hundred-plus years of lead wash from the roof above excellent work.
September 19, 2023
A big thank you goes out to Pine Tree Services for helping us at My Place Teen Center 75 Bacon. We can now see the front of this beautiful building again. Lots of good stuff is happening with help from so many.
August 3, 2023
Four large oil boilers gone from MPTC were used to burn thousands of gallons of oil to heat the church. My Place Teen will heat space with air-to-water heat pumps and natural gas. Dirty job!!!
July 23, 2023
On this episode of The Randy Forcier Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Jim Godbout—a man who has dedicated his time and energy to strengthening our local communities in York, Cumberland, and beyond. Jim’s been at the forefront of many vital community projects, including his work on My Place Teen Center. It’s a monumental effort to restore an old church, transforming it into a safe, supportive space for local teens to thrive. From clearing years of decay to building a fresh future, Jim’s all in, and his story is an inspiring blend of commitment and heart. Whether you know Jim or this is your introduction, this episode will show you how deeply one person can impact the lives around them. Click to see video >>
July 19, 2023
I delivered the new hood system for My Place Teen Center today. Thank you, Biddeford Saco Rotary Club, for your donation.
June 9, 2023
It was a time when Faith, Commitment, Loyalty, and Sacrifice to others were part of daily life. Nice piece of history, guys, found at MPTC renovation. These attributes are disappearing, and I want to know where society is heading. Stay the course for all of you who carry these values.
May 25, 2023
Progress picture at My Place Teen Center, aka St. Andre’s historic church. I am seeking help next week to fill several 30-yard dumpsters starting Tuesday. Much debris has accumulated over the years and must be removed for progress. The extensive project requires many hands. Please see Jeff Martel on-site for guidance. Safety number one here can’t have anyone running through the building. Thanks, Jim.
May 18, 2023
Takes a village to bring My PLace Teen center into this historic building known as st. Andres church. Much more damage due to neglect than anticipated but making headway thanks to skilled workers.
May 12, 2023
Big thanks to chef German Lucarelli for donating the first kitchen equipment (commercial dishwasher) to My Place Teen Center’s new building at old St Andre’s Church. Please support all those businesses that give so much back to our surrounding communities. The Lost Fire, Luca, Casa 77, Ultramar.
May 11, 2023
Falcons are doing very well with new babies and still have good food sources around, but not inside My Place Teen Center, aka St. Andres church. Pigeons are officially vacated thanks to excellent teamwork sealing up the tower, broken windows in some challenging areas, and lots of brick replacement due to years of neglect. We did have to rebuild almost the entire wall, but as you can see, bulging pulled away from the structure. Things are changing.
April 22, 2023
St. Andres, in its prime and current condition, MPTC will bring new life to the historic building with the help of many. Pulling apart an old altar brought me closer to an old friend who built it for the church in 1969. This man is a true craftsman in his day like no other. Many of you will remember the famous Rusty Rossignol; his signature was found during renovation. My Place Teen Center is on the move. Scroll around old photos to see the beautiful church in its heyday.
April 20, 2023 — Portland Press Herald Article
St. Andre Church in Biddeford undergoing major renovation.

An iconic and neglected Biddeford landmark is getting a second lease on life, thanks to a group of volunteers and others who are working to repurpose the former St. Andre Church on Bacon Street to create an expanded community teen center. More

April 19, 2023
Brick at MPTC is much worse than anticipated but is the first step to rebuilding this iconic building. Just the beginning!
April 18, 2023
Another team member, Sam, from East Coast Electric, is setting up safe electricity at St. Andres, the new home of My Place Teen Center. Also, a picture of one of several trucks so far of pigeon poo. Nasty job, guys are doing a great job making the building safe.
April 15, 2023
Moving My Place Teen Center to the old St. Andres church has many obstacles, the first being to remove tenants who have taken over for many years in the entire building. When all the beautiful leaded glass was removed, they just put back single-pane glass. The pigeons have broken through and set up home. Thanks to Kevin Bedard and his team, we are sealing the building and cleaning up the colossal mess the pigeons left behind. This will be a project that many in the community can help with once we get it to safe conditions. Also, peregrine falcons dine on the pigeons. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife monitoring falcons as they have eggs in the nest; we don’t want to disturb them; they are located outside the west view of the steeple. More to come!!!!!
April 14, 2023
We are bringing new life to a church close to many in the community. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS! My Place Teen Center project is getting off the ground with heavy community involvement required. This place will provide academic and job readiness skills while teaching life skills for youth and young adults — all with courage, passion, and a joy to live. Watch as we transform, be bold, and join the team of community leaders making this happen. A significant project for a building that’s been neglected for many years.
Significant commitments from our ancestors built St. Andres church over a hundred years ago, giving on average 10 cents a week to buy three bricks at a time to build a church. This kind of commitment from the community needs to take place so we can bring life back to this historic part of our heritage. Nate Libby’s team of masons has started repairs on the brickwork, which has many years of neglect.
February 24, 2022 — The Courier Article
My Place Teen Center Looks to 2023 Biddeford Opening

My Place Teen Center Inc., is targeting July or August 2023 for the opening of a big new space for youth in Biddeford. To seal the deal, York County Commissioners, which in October had allocated $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the renovation of the former St. Andre Church on Bacon Street… More

October 7, 2021 — Portland Press Herald Article
York County Commissioners approve $1.5 million for My Place Teen Center in Biddeford

The quest to bring My Place Teen Center to Biddeford took a giant leap forward Wednesday, with a unanimous vote by York County Commissioners to approve up to $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the project. More

October 7, 2021 — Portland Press Herald Article
Saco and Biddeford Savings donates $50,000 to support My Place Teen Center’s York County location

Saco & Biddeford Savings has gifted $50,000 to support the Biddeford expansion of My Place Teen Center. The funds will be used toward renovation and furnishings for the new location at 75 Bacon St, which is projected to open in 2023. More