WATERVILLE $ Neighbors of the old Gilman Street School are expected to turn out at Monday's Planning Board meeting, where a project to transform the facility into affordable housing will be discussed.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at The Center.

Developers Collaborative of Portland wants to turn the 1913 building into 33 affordable apartments and restore the building to historic standards. Developers Kevin Bunker, Richard Berman and Jim Hatch say they hope to let the city use the restored gymnasium for an affordable price.

They are targeting tenants who earn $20,000 to $36,000 a year, and the rent for the heated apartments would be $450 to $750 a month. They want to build seven three-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom and 9 or 10 one-bedroom apartments in the 41,000-square-foot facility.

The former school is owned by Brunswick businessman Peter Arena, but Developers Collaborative has a purchase and sale agreement to buy the building and plans to close on the deal in August 2009.