By TOM SPOTH, Sun Staff
CHELMSFORD The cash-strapped St. Vartanantz Armenian Church has sold eight acres of its 16.6-acre property to raise money for repairs and hire a full-time priest, church officials said.
Billerica developer Fran McCarthy is planning a 32-unit affordable-housing development on the St. Vartanantz land, according to town officials.
Paul Ketchoyian, chairman of the church’s parish council, said the land sold for $1.5 million, a figure that could increase depending on the number of units approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Chapter 40B affordable-housing plans fall under the ZBA’s purview.
Ketchoyian said the land could have fetched a larger sum, but the parish council wanted to choose a buyer that would develop the land responsibly. (One bidder planned to build 108 condominiums, he said.)
“It boiled down to what we thought was good for the town and good for the church,” Ketchoyian said. “Anything less (than $1.5 million) would not solve the problem.”
The income will pay off a mortgage on the church building, and interest earned will help with upkeep, Ketchoyian said. Money that had been used for mortgage payments would then be freed up to pay for a full-time priest, he said. St. Vartanantz currently uses a part-time priest that visits the church only on Sundays.
McCarthy has not filed plans with the town yet, director of community development Andrew Sheehan said. McCarthy is currently seeking approval from MassHousing, a state money-lender for affordable projects.
Ketchoyian indicated that the main access to the property would be off Walnut Street, and residents in the area have already called the church with concerns about the proposal.
Ten triplexes and one duplex are planned for the site, Sheehan said. According to Ketchoyian, the units would be restricted to buyers who are at least 55 years old.
McCarthy did not return a phone call seeking comment.
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