The New England Conference Board of Trustees is pleased to report that the former Conference offices at 276 Essex Street in Lawrence, MA, have been sold to the development company 5-9 Mill Street, LLC.

“It is a relief to all of us to have completed the disposition of this property,” said Bernard H. Campbell, Esq., President of the Board of Trustees.

The closing took place on May 30, 2019 – nearly a year after the move to the new Conference Center at 411 Merrimack St., Methuen, MA.

The sale of the Essex Street property was complicated by certain environmental conditions that were discovered once the Conference offices were moved. They likely originated from cleaning activity in the basement related to the former use of the building for fur sales, cleaning, and storage.

The Conference engaged the services of Watermark Environmental of Lowell, MA, which assisted the Conference in an analysis of the scope and potential impact of the issue.

The sale terms specifically include an agreement under which the buyer will complete all responsibilities associated with the property’s environmental condition.

Once the expenses associated with work on the Lawrence property are satisfied, the balance of the proceeds will be applied to the costs of acquiring and developing the Conference Center in Methuen.  

The sale was completed with the assistance of Hugo Overdeput of Colliers International, the Conference’s listing real estate agency.

The Conference maintains a presence in Lawrence with Christ UMC on Haverhill Street and two parsonage buildings owned by the Conference.