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September 7, 2016

Ruling moves church site closer to redevelopment

By BRIAN MILLER
Journal staff reporter

A splinter group at First Presbyterian Church of Seattle received an adverse ruling from the Washington State Supreme Court, which removes another roadblock to developing two large parcels along both sides of Spring Street on First Hill, just above Interstate 5.

On the north side of Spring Street is Town Hall, which plans its own separate renovation, as well as an L-shaped parcel where Lennar is planning two 32-story residential towers on parking lots that First Presbyterian sold in 2014 for $9 million.

Up to 550 apartments could be in the towers, which are being designed by Perkins + Will. British Columbia Investment Management Corp., or bcIMC, owns the land, with Lennar as its development partner.

On the south side of Spring is the 1960s-era First Presbyterian Church along with its chapel, annex and parking lot.

The two blocks are bounded by Seneca and Madison streets, and Seventh and Eighth avenues.

The Seattle Times reported on Sunday that former First Presbyterian co-pastors Jeff and Ellen Schulz were denied a stay in their long-running legal battle with the national and regional bodies of the Presbyterian Church. The Schulzes last year argued that they and their conservative congregants had claim to the church property — not the more liberal national Presbyterian Church. That claim was denied this May in King County Superior Court.

In a July 26 letter, the state Supreme Court rejected their request for a stay. Last month the Schulzes vacated the church to establish a new congregation called Seattle First Mosaic Church, the Times reports. First Presbyterian now lists as its pastor Rev. Dr. Heidi Armstrong.

For the south lot, 2014 documents filed with the city show GGLO asking for zoning guidance. The financially responsible party is listed as Bentall Kennedy, which previously advised bcIMC on the north lot purchase. No further plans or permits have been filed for the south lot, and there is no indication if a developer is working on it.

First Presbyterian Church of Seattle was founded in 1869, and the congregation has shrunk from a high of about 8,000 to 30 active worshippers today, the Times reports.

Seattle Presbytery Executive Director Scott Lumsden did not return calls yesterday for comment about the block south of Spring. He told the Times that redevelopment contracts had been signed, but didn't specify with whom.

The state Supreme Court hasn't decided yet whether to consider the Schulzes' request for a review of the Superior Court decision.

A First Presbyterian congregant told the Times that he expected the 1960s buildings, which are not landmarked, to eventually be demolished. Online records about the design are contradictory, crediting both Gudmund Berge, of MBB Architecture, and NBBJ for designing the four buildings on the block.

First Presbyterian is one of several downtown churches to reconsider the value of their land. First United Methodist at Fifth and Marion sold and moved to Lower Queen Anne in 2008. Kevin Daniels is incorporating that old church, dubbed “the Sanctuary,” into a 48-story office-hotel complex called The Mark.

In 2012, Gethsemane Lutheran Church redeveloped its property on Stewart Street in the Denny Triangle to create a mixed-use affordable housing project with Compass Housing that also includes worship and sanctuary spaces.

Town Hall, which opened in 1999, occupies the former Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist building.


 


Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517.




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