LOGAN SQUARE — After months of deliberation, the congregation of St. Luke’s church has collectively decided on a buyer for its historic church.
Following a congregational meeting July 12, members sorted through a list of offers for the neo-Gothic church before unanimously voting on New Community Covenant Church, according to an announcement from pastor Erik Christensen.
St. Luke’s signed a contract with New Community Covenant Friday bringing the group one step closer to finalizing the sale of the 114-year-old property at 2649 N. Francisco Ave.
St. Luke's decided to sell its church because its congregation has shrunk and the building requires hundreds of thousands of dollars in deferred maintenance the group cannot afford. St. Luke's is looking for another location to continue its mission.
No sale price has been announced but the congregation was looking for $1.5 million, according to its real estate listing.
(DNAinfo/Darryl Holliday)
The next steps include an inspection of the church ahead of the final closing, expected to take place September 1 — though the congregation of St. Luke’s will retain full occupancy of the church building through October 25 (Reformation Sunday), according to Christensen.
“Although the sale is not yet final, the news is now public. We will be communicating additional details during worship this Sunday and letters will be sent out early next week,” Christensen said, noting plans for assessing interim spaces, planning festival worship services, cataloging, packing and selling church items.
“Now we will need to pull together in new ways as the next phase of our leave-taking begins,” he added.
Meanwhile, St. Luke’s broker Annie Coleman has been instructed to begin the terms of sale. Logan Square stage Theater Y will also perform it's last run of performances at their St. Luke's home.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
