University of Dayton transfers former church to new university entity

Deed does not prevent university from dividing the property or using as condos.
Former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 105 Sawmill Road, Dayton. Montgomery County photo

Former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 105 Sawmill Road, Dayton. Montgomery County photo

The University of Dayton has transferred a former church at 105 Sawmill Road in Dayton to a university-created limited liability company (LLC).

According to the property deed, the site is not to be used for any purpose other than as an owner-occupied residence for 50 years. But that restriction does not prevent the owner from dividing the property into condominiums or “separate building lots.”

The former First Church of Christ, Scientist, in the South Dayton Rubicon residential neighborhood near the University of Dayton campus covers more than 8,600 square feet, according to a description in Montgomery County property records.

The buyer and the seller in this two-parcel transaction both have addresses that match the university’s address, 300 College Park Drive. The buyer is identified as 105 Sawmill LLC, and the seller is East Aqua Development, also an LLC.

Mary Ann P. Recker, vice president and general counsel at the University of Dayton, signed the incorporation papers for the the creation of 105 Sawmill LLC, according to state filings. The LLC was created in March.

The transaction’s conveyance form shows that no money was exchanged for the property. The grantor and grantee — the “seller” and the “buyer” — are owned by the same parent entity.

A spokeswoman for the university said UD no longer owns the property.

It appears the church sold the property to the university in 2013 for $230,000.

The date of the latest transfer is recorded as Tuesday.

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