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September 23, 2008
Work begins on $38M church
Construction has started on the First United Methodist Church's new $38 million complex at 168 Denny Ave. The 35,000-square-foot building is set for completion in late 2009, in time for Christmas.
The project was designed by Bassetti Architects. There will be two separate buildings, bounded on the south by Denny Way, on the east by Second Avenue North, and on the west by Warren Avenue North.
A 500-seat sanctuary, wrapped in titanium skin, will be built on the eastern portion of the property. The western building has 160 parking stalls and a 4,500-square-foot urban outreach center that will house a drop-in center, overnight shelter and other services for homeless people.
Last year, the congregation sold its former church building, a 1910 structure at the corner of Fifth and Marion, to developer Nitze-Stagen. The congregation originally planned to redevelop the building but a legal battle ensued over preserving it. A 2005 appeals court decision favored the congregation, but additional challenges were made when the church sought a developer and filed a demolition permit.
Nitze-Stagen purchased the property for $30 million and is preserving the historic building and adding a tower next door.
The congregation is embarking on a $2 million capital campaign and the remainder of the project will be financed through revenues from public use of the parking garage, and from the sale proceeds from the 1910 building.
Building permits were submitted on Sept. 11.
The general contractor is Abbott Construction and development consultation is provided by the Seneca Group. Coughlin Porter Lundeen is structural and civil engineer, Holaday-Parks is mechanical and plumbing consultant, R. Martin Electric is electrical engineer and JGM Landscape Architects is landscape architect.