Historic Oakhurst Manor’s Fate Hangs in Court After Devastating Fire

Northbridge: The historic Oakhurst Manor is in a bit of a pickle after a fire last year. The owner, Clarence Risher, says the sale is now stuck in court, and it could take ages to sort out.

The fire, which happened on March 1, caused about $500,000 in damages. Risher bought the manor for $1.35 million back in 2021. The cause of the fire is still a mystery, but investigators think it might have been a cigarette tossed from a window.

Risher had a deal to sell the manor and its 25 acres for $1.6 million to a company called Atlantic Solutions LLC, led by Lee Jundanian. But now, Jundanian is suing Risher, claiming he didn’t stick to the agreement.

Jundanian wanted to tear down the manor and build homes on the land. The deal included an $800,000 upfront payment, with the rest to be paid off as homes were sold. But Risher allegedly has another buyer and hasn’t evicted tenants living on the property, which is against their agreement.

Risher also didn’t clean up the property and made some demands that Jundanian found unreasonable. Now, Jundanian wants the court to enforce the sale agreement and cover his legal costs.

Risher described the past year as the worst of his life, saying it’s been a real roller coaster. He even lost his job in software development. To make things more appealing to buyers, he split the property into three parts: the manor, two homes, and 19 acres of forest.

He had some offers, but they’re likely off the table now because Jundanian got a judge to grant a lis pendens, which gives him a claim to the property’s title. Risher has also had trouble with tenants who refuse to leave, complicating any potential sales.

He’s trying to evict one tenant through Housing Court and believes he can still sell the property, but the lis pendens makes it tough for buyers. Risher thinks the cash sale for the manor will go on, but the forest and other buildings won’t sell until the tenants are out.

The manor has a rich history, built in 1890 by the Whitin family, who started the first textile mill in Northbridge. It’s been through a lot, including ownership by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and later used as a retreat center.