NORTHFIELD — The Community Bible Church has parted with the lot at 24 Main St. where it had previously planned to build a new place of worship, selling the property to the owner of the Northfield Food Mart for $65,000.
Jody James, through Redfoot LLC, bought the property, which Community Bible Church Pastor Bob Emberley said spans just less than 1 acre, within the past month. James, who bought the Northfield Food Mart at 74 Main St. in 2016, declined to comment on his plans for the parcel when reached by phone.
Emberley said his church had owned the land since February 2011, with the intention of building a new place of worship there. However, the lot was not big enough and there were also other challenges too daunting for the organization. The Rice family had donated the land, which was previously the site of a Mobil gas station, to the Community Bible Church.
Emberley said the money from the sale will go into a fund to help maintain the church’s new home at 105 Main St., where it has been located since earlier this year. He noted that James bought the property understanding it is not a buildable site unless he receives a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals as it is a nonconforming lot. As a religious entity, the church was exempt from needing a variance.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.