According to the Eagle Tribune the Haverhill Historical Commission is fighting to preserve the church. According to commission members, construction of restaurant in the place of Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church will change the character of the city.
Owners of the church said that the old building is in need of repair that will demand over $1.5 m. This is the reason they are selling it to complete construction of a new one.
Scott Sahagian, chairman of the parish council for the Church at Hye Pointe, told the newspaper that attempts to block the deal would, to him, amount to “religious and ethnic” persecution.