The Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center (HSNHC) has closed on the purchase of the former Spirit and Truth Baptist Church building (the old Franklin Park Theatre) at 616-624 Blue Hill Ave. and will redevelop the property in a future phase of the Center’s renovation plans.

The property was purchased by HSNHC at auction earlier this year via a court-appointed receiver. After review, the sale for $1.1 million was approved and executed within the last 30 days.

“Harvard Street looks forward to partnering with The Community Builders to build much-needed affordable housing on the site,” said HSNHC President Charley Murphy, who added that they will now include the theatre building within Phase 2 of their overall campus renovation plans, with Phase 1 being a medical building on Old Road located behind the existing health center. That project was approved earlier this year by the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA).

Phase 2 is at least two to three years away, he said, and would include demolishing the existing health center on Blue Hill Avenue and the theatre building.

The Community Builders would construct mixed use buildings of about five stories each, with the first floors devoted to the medical center, and the upper floors owned and operated as affordable housing. It is estimated the buildings would accommodate a total of around 100 new units.

He said the three existing retail businesses in the theatre building – including a Dominican sandwich shop, a hair salon, and a printer – have been offered two-year leases to remain there until Phase 2 begins.