Historic Church To Be Sold

 HARWICH – On a split vote, the select board Monday agreed to enter into a purchase and sales agreement with Davenport Realty Trust for the sale of the historic West Harwich Baptist Church. 

The town will first acquire the church property from First Baptist Church and Society by eminent domain to clear deed discrepancies.

The Davenport Realty Trust will pay the First Baptist Church and Society $300,000 directly for the acquisition. Last year, the 1.62-acre property and building were assessed at $815,100. For its efforts in facilitating the sale between Davenport and the church, the town will be reimbursed $10,000 for expenses.

Davenport is planning to build between 10 and 13 market rate rental units in the 4,136-square-foot structure, with unit sizes ranging from 600 to 800 square feet. The South Yarmouth developer is also committing to retain the architectural, historic and cultural significance of the exterior of the church, built in the 1880s.

The select board’s vote was not unanimous.

“I can’t vote in favor of it,” said Select Board Chair Julie Kavanagh when voting against executing the purchase and sales agreement. “It’s non-responsive to the request for proposal.” 

Select Board member Donald Howell was not in attendance for the 3-1 vote.

The project will accomplish two goals for the town, Jamie Veara, vice president/chief of staff of the Davenport Companies, said in a press release. 

“The first is the creation and development of more housing units for the community as it has become increasingly difficult for people to find quality housing,” he said. “Secondly, the proposal would help sustain one of the most important historical structures in Harwich, which is also a gateway point to people entering the town from the west.”

The re-use of the historic church will maintain the building’s look and character for generations, said Veara. The project is viewed as a linchpin in revitalizing the Route 28 corridor in West Harwich, while simultaneously providing critical housing for Cape Codders, he said.

When the First Baptist Church and Society first put the church property on the real estate market, it was clear there were land title issues that needed to be addressed. The parcel included the historic cemetery to the rear of the property that is maintained by the town, and there are gravesites close to the church structure. 

Davenport expressed a desire to acquire the property directly from the church, but when issue clouding the title arose, the company began conversations about a public-private partnership that would clear the title. The town stepped in to assist with addressing those issues through the use of eminent domain, which eliminates any title problems.

Harwich Town Meeting voters approved the mechanism for the church’s title to be cleared and eventually sold. The town will complete a friendly taking of the church property, allowing the parcel to be conveyed with good, clear, and marketable title to Davenport.

According to the purchase and sales agreement, upon issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the buyer will convey for a nominal consideration a 41,139 square feet of land that includes the cemetery. That will leave 29,227 square feet for the former church property. Should gravesites located in the project construction zone need to be exhumed and relocated, the cost would be negotiated between the town and the developer..

Davenport also agreed to enter into a mutually acceptable preservation restriction agreement with the historical commission to ensure that the features and characteristics that embody the architectural, historical, and cultural significance of the exterior of the building will be retained and maintained in the renovated structure.

Davenport agreed the property will not be used for commercial purposes and will remain in perpetuity as market-rate residential rental units.  

What also attracted the town to the project was the need to locate a sewer pump station in the area. The agreement requires the developer to  provide an easement for a pump station to the town in a mutually acceptable location. 

 A lot is happening along Route 28 in West Harwich. Developer John Carey, who purchased the historic West Harwich Schoolhouse behind the church, is restoring the 1872 structure and renovating it into seven affordable housing units with an addition three units in a second structure to be built on the property 

Carey also last month purchased the derelict Captain Baker house at 52 and 48 Route 28, just to the west of Depot Street. The house served as the parsonage for the Baptist Church at one point. Several years ago, West Harwich residents battled over plans to remove the failing historic house and replace it with a Dollar Store. The property includes two three-quarter acre lots. 

“I bought it to project it,” Carey said. “I’d like to build more housing here, but my commitment is to complete the [schoolhouse] project and then see what the town wants there. The focus on Cape Cod is housing, and historic looking and beautiful is appropriate for West Harwich. I believe in the direction West Harwich is going.”