Multifamily development plans revised for former Suffield church property

A property owner is revising plans to convert church property in Suffield into a multifamily residential development.

James R. McMahon owns 140 and 156 S. Main St., in Suffield, which he bought last year for more than $700,000 from the Sacred Heart Parish Corp., according to town records.

In 2022, McMahon proposed an adaptive reuse of the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 140 South Main St. into residential units. 

His first plan called for 16 apartments over three floors, with two units deemed affordable. Later, he downsized the plan to 12 apartments with no affordable units.

The Planning and Zoning Commission in 2023 denied the second plan, stating the applicant failed to demonstrate a substantial benefit to the town. They also raised concerns over project density, parking, lack of affordable units, and the plan not fitting in with the overall character of the town.

However, McMahon has recently submitted new site plans and a permit application for an adaptive re-use of the former St. Joseph’s convent and rectory buildings at 156 South Main St. The two buildings date back to the 1850 and sit in Suffield’s historic district.

According to the application, the former convent is a three-story structure with 10 bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, one full kitchen and a mini kitchen. McMahon is proposing to convert it into two apartments; one three-bedroom on the first two floors, and a one-bedroom apartment on the third floor. 

The former rectory is a 5,376 square foot building with nine bedrooms and three bathrooms. The new plan calls for three apartments, each with three bedrooms. 
McMahon said the footprint and exterior design for both buildings will remain unchanged. The site plan also includes a garage for three cars and 10 outside parking spaces.

The application for 156 S. Main St. will go to a Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on June 17.

McMahon also conducted a pre-application conference with town officials on his plans for 140 Main St., revisiting the 16-unit and 12-unit options, but did not yet submit a new application for that building. He and town officials also discussed possible developments for another parcel behind the church, convent and rectory properties, for which McMahon has not yet submitted any site plan or permit applications.