MATTAPOISETT — After years of being a base of public safety, Mattapoisett’s old fire station at 26 County Road will soon serve a different purpose.

The property was purchased earlier this year by Sakonnet Properties, a real estate development company owned by Mattapoisett resident Paul Downey, for $300,500.

On the cover letter of Downey’s bid to purchase the property, Downey said he plans to use the building for office space.

“I am pursuing the subject property as a permanent home for my development companies as well as additional commercial office space,” said Downey. “The fire station has always been a landmark in town and I plan to largely keep it intact while improving the vehicular circulation on the property. My proposal would project the feel of a Cape Cod office building.”

Another bid to purchase the property was submitted by Marion resident Mike Sudofsky, but his bid was deemed “unresponsive.”

Mattapoisett’s Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special building permit for Sakonnet Properties on Feb. 15.

“The applicant wants to use this building the way it is, meaning they will not be adding on but fixing up what is existing for a multi-use commercial space on the first floor and a residential unit on the second floor,” said Steven Gioiosa, who was representing Sakonnet Properties at the meeting.

Gioiosa added “the expansive pavement in front of the building and the south side will be eliminated and replaced with landscape.”

Work on the exterior of the building is currently underway.

Downey did not respond to multiple requests for comment.