Church property sale finalized, five more under agreement
The Archdiocese of Boston announced the completion of the first reconfiguration property sale. In addition, five more properties have been placed under agreement.
A statement issued May 20 said Sacred Heart Church in Medford has been sold to Tufts University for “institutional” use. The signing of purchase and sale agreements on five more former parishes — St. Joseph in Hyde Park, Most Blessed Sacrament in Quincy, Blessed Sacrament in Cambridge, Notre Dame de Lourdes in Lowell and St. Peter in Malden — brings the total number of properties under agreement to nine.
"The closings of these sale transactions are likely to continue over the next several weeks subject to the satisfaction of a number of terms, including the continued process of due diligence," the statement said.
St. Joseph and St. Peter were sold to Greater Faith Worship Center and Grace Church of God respectively and will both be used for “worship and meeting” space. Most Blessed Sacrament, Blessed Sacrament and Notre Dame will all be used for housing and were purchased by John Farrell and Skip Mofford, Urban Spaces and Carlisle Equity Partners respectively.
The archdiocese began soliciting offers over a 90-day period on Nov. 15 last year for most of these properties. The archdiocesan Real Estate Office and the Real Estate Advisory Committee evaluated the offers, and chancellor David Smith brought the recommendations to Archbishop Seán P. O’Malley for his consideration. Then the archbishop presented the properties to the Finance Council and College of Consultors and received their approval.