The town of Athol is seeking developers to buy and adaptively reuse the former 14,000-square-foot Maroni Furniture Building at 25 Exchange St.

The building is a municipally-owned facility in Athol’s Central Commercial District. In a town-commissioned study, possible reuse potential was highlighted, which reduces predevelopment costs for interested developers and shows examples of options supported by the property, existing regulations and the town of Athol, according to a statement. MassDevelopment contracted with Winter Street Architects of Salem to prepare the study for Athol.

"Helping prepare this site for development and managing that process fits MassDevelopment’s mission of creating housing units and eliminating blight throughout the commonwealth," said MassDevelopment Executive Vice President of real estate Richard Henderson. "We have great hopes for what’s to come at 25 Exchange St. and look forward to seeing future development at the site."

The 25 Exchange St. building was built in 1874 as the Kendall Boot Factory, according to a statement. After the factory left in 1887, the building changed hands a number of times and was transferred to the town in 2008.

The former Maroni Furniture Building was last assessed for $179,800, according to records obtained by The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

"The town is looking forward to the redevelopment of this property and hopes to offer assistance to any person or organization that is interested in the project," said Phil Delorey, director of planning and development for Athol. "Athol is very optimistic about the opportunity this property represents."

Athol hopes the building will be redeveloped as an efficient, cost-effective mixed-use project, with residential units above commercial space.