WILDER — After sitting vacant for several years, the former Brookside Nursing Home has new owners and a fresh coat of paint, giving hope to neighbors that the property will be put to productive use.

In August, a real estate firm owned by Upper Valley developer Mike Davidson purchased the former nursing home at 1200 Christian St. for $825,000.

The 67-bed facility in Wilder village ceased operations in November 2017, shortly after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it would stop making payments to Brookside due to deficiencies in patient care.

Davidson, in a phone interview, said current plans for the property include either a school — which would have a residential component for some students — or a housing project with about 30 to 40 apartments.

“We have a housing crisis right now in the Upper Valley,” Davidson said before characterizing it as a “housing emergency.”

This week, contracted workers were painting the building exterior a pale shade of yellow. Over the weekend, workers cleared trees and overgrown vegetation from the 4-acre parcel.

The building is located in a residential district that would allow for a school to operate on a property if approved by the town Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Davidson has an extensive portfolio in White River Junction, including the Ledgeworks apartment building on 132 S. Main St.

Neighbors said in interviews that they are glad the property is being cleaned up and maintained but they’d like to know more.

“I’m happy that they’re painting it, and we’re happy that someone is planning to do something with it,” said Debbie Rodgers, who lives across the street. “We’re just kind of curious as to what’s going to go in there.”

Rodgers, citing the need for housing, said she would be receptive to a multifamily apartment building, provided there is adequate parking and lighting and a traffic plan — one that avoids sending cars onto Brookside Drive where she lives.

“If he puts in, say, 40 studio apartments, that’s possibly 80 cars that will be ripping in and out of here if they use this road,” Rodgers said. “It would be absolutely horrible.”

Anika Gilbert, who also lives on Brookside Drive, said she would not welcome an apartment project, which could result in light pollution and traffic safety concerns. She noted Brookside Drive does not have pedestrian sidewalks.

“I don’t want to live next to a big housing community,” Gilbert said.

Though apprehensive about Davidson’s plans, Gilbert said she was relieved that the property is no longer abandoned.

After Brookside closed, a caretaker maintained the property, Gilbert said, but at night the building was unmonitored.

Police were called by neighbors on multiple occasions to investigate trespassers, she said.

Gilbert said she has been inside the vacant building and had seen evidence of copper piping ripped from walls and of rodent infestation.

“I’m incredibly surprised that they are painting it,” given the poor condition of the interior, Gilbert said.

Davidson said contractors will be shifting their work to inside the building once the outside improvements are complete.

“Having sat for six years, the building is in very good condition,” Davidson said.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at padrian@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.

CORRECTION: The Village at White River Junction is owned by Columbia Pacific Advisors, an investment firm bas ed in Seattle. A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the property’s owner.