A federal court will hear arguments next month on a proposal to temporarily halt the University of Maine System’s sale of the Hutchinson Center in Belfast to a local nonprofit, as part of a larger lawsuit from a church trying to stop the deal.
Calvary Chapel Belfast, which was originally selected as the buyer of the facility before the UMaine System rescinded its first offer, is seeking a temporary restraining order while its lawsuit moves forward.
Last week, the court scheduled a hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 in Bangor for oral arguments on the restraining order.
The church has accused the UMaine System of discriminating against it when the original sale offer was rescinded. It argues the system conspired with community members who opposed selling the facility to a religious entity.
The system has denied that its revocation of the original order was motivated by discrimination. Rather, it has argued that it followed appropriate steps for seeking bids to buy the university property and that it reversed its decision to sell to Calvary Chapel Belfast after realizing it did not take into consideration the full cost of leasing property back at the site.
After seeking a second round of proposals for the Hutchinson Center, the system ultimately offered to sell it to another group, Waldo Community Action Partners, after it offered to pay more than the other two bidders to buy the facility.
The system also rejected an administrative appeal that Calvary Chapel Belfast filed after the new buyer was announced.