The University is in the preliminary phases of a possible purchase of the now-closed Sacred Heart Church at 51 Winthrop St. in Medford from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
"It's very much a property that we are interested in at this point," Tufts' Director of Real Property Services Bruce Ketchen said. "I've been in direct contact with the Archdiocese. They know about our interest, and they've encouraged us to make an offer."
The Sacred Heart Church is one of 16 closed church properties that the Archdiocese is selling as part of a reconfiguration process to pay debts stemming from a stock market downturn and the cost of settling clergy abuse cases.
The Archdiocese started accepting offers for its properties on Nov. 15 and will continue soliciting offers for 90 days.
The Catholic Church does not sell property unless the buyer meets certain guidelines. Sales must also be approved by members of the Church hierarchy, going up as high as the Vatican.
Preference is given to other religious organizations, charities and non-profit entities. "Each decision will be based on the many factors, including proposed property used, price and contingencies," Archdiocesan Chancellor David Smith said in a press release.
If the church were sold to Tufts, it would not be the first transaction between the University and the Archdiocese. The Church sold the Catholic Center at 58 Winthrop St. to Tufts over the summer.
The Sacred Heart property is being marketed by Brian McKenzie of Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, a Boston-based real-estate firm.
During the 90 days in which the Church is accepting offers, Ketchen said the University will more closely examine the property. "We're currently going through the pre-acquisition, the due diligence phase of that project, to first of all determine what the value is and to determine what's actually there and what the zoning will allow to take place there," he said.
The Medford Board of Assessors most recently valued the buildings at $812,500, and the 0.45 of an acre on which they sit at $429,300. But the Boston Globe reported that many realty executives have said church buildings - which are not taxed - are often overvalued so as to maximize the amount of money the state reimburses the towns where they are located.
The Sacred Heart Church property was built between 1939 and 1940 and includes a 7,245 square foot church building and a 4,680 square foot rectory.
