The Church of Safe Injection office at 195 Main St. is seen Wednesday with a condemnation notice on the front door. (Photo courtesy of the city of Lewiston)

The city’s code enforcement office announced Wednesday it has condemned the building at 195 Main St. in Lewiston, which houses a syringe service program known as the Church of Safe Injection.

According to a city news release, after police received a report that the building’s front door was open, police and code enforcement staff found several biohazard risks, including needles, unsecured sharps containers, fecal matter and evidence of unauthorized individuals sleeping in the basement.

Code inspectors said they found thousands of used needles scattered throughout the property and “extensive filth,” leading staff to believe that the building has been abandoned for months, “with calendars still displaying summer dates and food left as though operations had abruptly stopped.”

“These conditions present an imminent threat to public health and safety,” said City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath. “The level of neglect and contamination in this building made immediate action necessary.”

Under the condemnation notice, the property owner has 10 days to bring the building into full compliance with state and local codes or face penalties of up to $2,500 a day, as allowed under Maine statute.

The building is owned by PMM Realty Trust of Portland; COSI is the sole renter. City spokeswoman Angelynne Amores said the property management company has been working with city staff.

According to the release, the city has also notified the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which licenses syringe service programs such as COSI.

Lewiston’s code enforcement office condemned the building at 195 Main St. after finding unsecured sharps containers, fecal matter and evidence of individuals sleeping in the basement. (Photo courtesy of the city of Lewiston)

“The apparent failure to secure hazardous materials appears to violate state health and safety regulations governing harm-reduction facilities, which require safe disposal protocols to prevent public health risks,” the release said.

While it has not been typical for Lewiston to issue news releases for building condemnations, COSI has been at the center of a very public debate over the role of needle exchange services in the city, including whether such programs should be allowed to operate in the downtown business district.

A call to Zoe Brokos, COSI’s executive director, was not immediately returned Wednesday.

This spring, Brokos spoke to the Sun Journal following an unexpected closure that she said stemmed from financing and staffing challenges.

But the closure also came at a time when city officials were looking to work with COSI on potential solutions to concerns over needle waste and the group’s impact on nearby businesses.

Since then, Brokos and others involved in COSI have spoken to the City Council regarding a proposed ordinance regulating needle exchange services in Lewiston. Most of the debate has been centered on shifting to a 1-to-1 needle exchange model, which the Maine CDC has opposed, as well as regulating where needle exchange services can operate.

While state officials say COSI’s harm reduction model is working to reduce fatal overdoses, local officials have argued that COSI’s presence downtown has resulted in public safety concerns that have hurt local businesses.

When reached Wednesday, Mayor Carl Sheline called the condemnation news “incredibly disheartening” and believes it will only increase the stigma surrounding substance use.

“I think it’s safe to say we will not be excited to welcome COSI back to Lewiston anytime soon,” he said. “I thank our planning and code department for their quick action.”