BANGOR – More than a year after they first began discussing it, city councilors Wednesday night agreed to sell a small but strategically located property to the Bangor Y rather than make it available to the highest bidder.

With that decision made, a competing order that called for putting the city-owned parcel at 58 Court St. out to bid was indefinitely tabled, essentially killing it.

The decision to deal exclusively with the Y, which is experiencing a parking crunch at its Hammond Street location, came down in a 7-1 vote, with Chairman John Cashwell and Councilors Annie Allen, Peter D’Errico, Frank Farrington, Richard Greene, Susan Hawes and Richard Stone voting in favor and Councilor Geoffrey Gratwick casting the sole opposing vote.

“The other point of view is affordable housing,” Gratwick said. Though he said he was a “great fan of the Y,” he thought the city needed more affordable housing downtown for people who work in and support downtown and as a way to prevent further sprawl and unnecessary gasoline use.

Representatives of the Y attended Wednesday’s meeting but did not address the council.

In earlier meetings, however, they suggested that the Court Street parcel could be a factor in whether the Y stayed in downtown Bangor, a decision they expect to make in the next few months.

The city acquired 58 Court St., which includes a dilapidated duplex, last year for nonpayment of taxes. Though officials last December were leaning toward negotiating a deal with the Y, they decided to hold off on a decision until locations for the new police station and new state courthouse were determined.

More recent talks have included the possibility of selling the property to a local developer who would rehabilitate the apartment building.

Despite city repair estimates ranging from $75,000 to $124,300 for a building that would have an after-rehab value of about $130,000, two local developers said they could make a go of it without any financial assistance from the city.

Though details remain to be worked out, the Y’s initial proposal called for paying off the $8,000 in taxes owed on the property and covering demolition costs.

The duplex then would be torn down, combined with an adjacent Y-owned lot and turned into a 14-space parking area for staff members.

Before that can happen, the parcel must be rezoned and receive site plan approval from the planning board.

Bangor Y board members are beginning a strategic planning process that could determine the future of its facilities, both on Hammond Street and on Second Street, Y officials said in meetings with the city last month and this month.

Bangor Y, which brings together the YMCA and YWCA, might not be able to afford both, Executive Director Rob Reeves and Joe Pratt, board treasurer, said.

While they made it clear that the Y wasn’t threatening to leave if it did not get the parcel, they said parking needs must be considered.

“[Parking] really does make the property practical as usable space or not practical as usable space,” Pratt said.