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First Church of Christ Scientist sold to Colvest Group for $1.1 million

Date: 6/4/2015

LONGMEADOW – There are currently no development or usage plans for the First Church of Christ Scientist property at 916 Williams St., which was recently purchased for $1.1 million by the Colvest Group, a real estate company.

“We have absolutely no plans at this point in time,” Frank Colaccino, owner of the Colvest Group, based out of Windsor, Conn., said.

Principal Assessor Robert Leclair told Reminder Publications the property is assessed at $1.91 million and consists of a 2.9-acre parcel along with the 6,410 square-foot church.

He added that as a religious organization the property was tax exempt; however, the Colvest Group is a for-profit company and is taxable.

“Any buyer would have to show tax exempt,” Leclair said.

As of June 1, the town has not received any documentation for an appeal from the Colvest Group for the company in order to keep the tax-exempt status on the property.

For fiscal year 2015, the property would have generated $25,790 in tax revenue based on the assessed value of the property.

Town Manager Stephen Crane said the property is “very valuable” to the town and the goal is to keep the property on the tax rolls.

“Right now, they own it,” he added. “They have not disclosed [any potential] zoning changes or any concrete plans for development [at this time].”

He added that he has spoken with representatives from the Colvest Group regarding the town’s long-range planning.

The area is also zoned Residential A-1.

Planning Board member Walter Gunn said under its current zoning, the property could be utilized as a senior center if the town bought the site. Bay Path University would also be allowed to use the property if it purchased the site.

Crane said it is “highly doubtful” that the town would purchase the property for a new senior center.

“I certainly wouldn’t recommend it,” he added.

“Any business would have to go through the same hoops as the Longmeadow Shops did [for a zone change],” Gunn said.

The Longmeadow Shops was approved to change its zoning from residential to business during a landslide vote of 729 to 168 during the Feb. 3 Special Town Meeting.

Gunn said a public hearing for the Longmeadow Shops’ planned expansion project is anticipated to take place in September.     

Reminder Publications previously reported that the public hearing was likely planned for June. Gunn explained that a traffic study for the project has yet to be completed.

The traffic engineers will make a presentation to the board on July 1, he noted.