Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

November 15, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bradford College Sale Completed;
Sales Paves Way for Zion Bible College to Move to Haverhill

BRADFORD- Mayor James J. Fiorentini proudly announced that the former Bradford College campus was officially sold today at a closing to Hob-Lob Ltd., an affiliated company of the Hobby Lobby Stores of Oklahoma City, OK.

After various renovations are undertaken, the campus will be occupied by Zion Bible College, presently located in Barrington, RI. In about one year, Hob-Lob Ltd. will donate the college property to Zion. The closing ends more than a year of negotiations and attempts by Zion to acquire the former Bradford College campus, which has been vacant for more than six years.

“This long-awaited moment in Haverhill’s continuing renaissance has finally occurred, and I’m thrilled to have an educational institution back on this historic campus,” stated Mayor James J. Fiorentini. “We look forward to working with Hobby-Lobby officials to get the campus back to life with students, educators and families.”

Bradford R. Martin, an attorney with Morrison Mahoney, LLP who served as local counsel for Hobby Lobby and has been working with Zion for the past 15 months, stated:

“The acquisition of the campus provides a bright future for Zion and is another part of the significant progress that Haverhill has made over the past few years.

“The remarkable generosity of the Green family has made all of this possible for Zion,” Attorney Martin added. “We are appreciative of the support of Mayor Fiorentini who consistently held out for an educational use of the property, and in particular the proposed use by Zion. Had he relented to the pressure to re-zone the campus, none this would have been possible,” he noted.

Mayor Fiorentini pointed out that:

“our hard work and persistence has paid off. I want to congratulate the members of the Bradford College Neighborhood Association for their diligence in this matter as well.”

“Zion will be a great addition to the City,” predicted the Mayor. “In its beginning 200 years ago, Bradford College was a training ground for notable Christian missionaries such as Ann Haseltine Judson and other historic Bradford figures. With Zion, the campus returns to this proud tradition,” added the Mayor.

Work on renovations will commence on a building-by-building basis almost immediately, in accordance with several historic preservation restrictions. Representatives from Hobby Lobby will be on site. It is anticipated that Zion will move in during the summer of 2008 and commence classes in Bradford next fall.