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Council approves TIF application to begin state review of Unitarian Universalist meeting house project
Summary
Developer Michael Dao told the council he bought the Unitarian Universalist Church property and plans to demolish an unsafe sanctuary, preserve stained glass, and convert the remaining meeting house to an events venue; the council voted to authorize a TIF application to begin state review.
Michael Dao, who said he acquired the Unitarian Universalist Church this summer, presented plans to preserve the site’s historic meeting house while demolishing an unsafe sanctuary and asked the council for tax‑increment financing help to make the restoration viable.
Dao told the council he paid the church’s asking price, obtained favorable payment terms and already invested in removing and storing the stained‑glass windows "to preserve them and keep them in the community". He said engineering studies showed the sanctuary is not salvageable and that he plans to reuse the meeting house as an events venue with a coffee shop and occasional catered events, "but I'm not looking to make an alcohol‑centric business." (Michael Dao)
Town staff explained that the council’s vote would only authorize preparation of a TIF application to the state, not a final incentive. The manager and staff walked the council through the two‑step process: drawing a district and winning state statutory review, then negotiating a project‑specific credit enhancement agreement that would spell out the length and percentage of tax incentives. Staff noted the district baseline valuation for this project would look back to April 1, 2025, which affects how much new value could be sheltered.
Council members asked technical questions about acreage limits for TIF districts, whether the planning board was involved (staff said district creation is a council action), and how credit enhancement agreements are negotiated and staggered so multiple projects don’t create sudden tax shifts. One councilor suggested drawing a wider VPI corridor district to incentivize more downtown investment rather than a one‑parcel TIF.
After discussion the council moved, seconded and adopted Resolution 25‑104, authorizing the town manager to prepare a TIF application that would include the meeting house project; a public hearing on the application will follow as part of the state review process.
The developer said demolition of the unsalvageable sanctuary and heavier site work was expected to start within a few weeks and reiterated his intent to keep historic elements visible in the community. The council did not approve any credit enhancement terms at this meeting; those would be negotiated later if the district is certified by the state.
