The St. Lawrence Church is located in the middle of the dense, residential neighborhood of Munjoy Hill in Portland, Maine, taking up an entire city block.

The arts center gives the obsolete historic landmark a constructive and economically viable use while in turn the restored structure provides an aesthetically pleasing and affordable venue perfect for artistic expression.

The initial capital investment in historic preservation goes on to support the arts in providing not only an affordable artistic venue, but also an income-producing asset as theater revenues currently cover a large percentage of the St. Lawrence operating expenses.

This capital investment subsidizes the theater operation and makes it possible for the St. Lawrence to realistically offer the venue at affordable rates and to diverse groups of artists and performers for well into the future.

[2] Maintenance suffered as the congregation dwindled in later years due to increasing costs and demographic changes; the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in an effort to help preserve it.