Gay Sutton Men to Sue Diocese over Failed Purchase of Northbridge Mansion

By Linda Bock
Telegram & Gazette
September 10, 2012

www.telegram.com/article/20120910/NEWS/120919986/1116

WORCESTER - Two gay Sutton men plan to file a lawsuit in Worcester Superior Court today against Affirmation Inc., an affiliate of the Diocese of Worcester, and other parties.

Worcester law firm Carvajal & Nielson will hold a press conference at 11:30 this morning at the courthouse, 225 Main St., to make the announcement.

James Fairbanks and Alain Beret, who live in Sutton, were pursuing the purchase of Oakhurst, a 44-bedroom mansion in Northbridge, owned by the Diocese of Worcester. The couple had searched for two years for property for the renovation project, and hoped to turn the estate into a banquet facility. Previously, the pair had transformed mansions in Vermont and Barre into similar businesses.

The asking price of $1.4 million was negotiated to $1 million. On May 18, the pair signed an offer to purchase with a $75,000 deposit.

In early June, the pair was notified that a $240,000 sprinkler system would have to be installed. Concerned that the deal might fall through, the diocese's broker suggested the men make a smaller counter offer for the mansion and some of the land, rather than the full 24 acres. So the men made a revised offer of $550,000 for the mansion and six acres, assuming everyone would be satisfied.

The next day, they received a brief email from the diocese's broker, LiSandra Rodriguez-Pagan, saying that the diocese decided to pursue "other plans" for the property.

Contact: lbock@telegram.com