BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — The former home of a Bedford-Stuyvesant church is set to be converted into retail space and apartments, according to plans filed with the city.
The three-story red and white property at 967 Bedford Ave. on the corner of DeKalb Avenue, which housed Trinity Apostolic Church, is slated to become a four-story mixed-use building.
A total of eight apartments would span the second through fourth floors and the penthouse, with more than 10,000 square feet of residential space.
About 2,400 square feet of stores would occupy the cellar and first floor, plans show, along with a 406-square-foot community facility on the ground level. Plans detail a duplex on the fourth floor and penthouse.
Trinity Apostolic Church moved to the Bedford Avenue building in 1991, Pastor Cornelius Olive said.
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The church sold the property to 969 Bedford Ave. LLC in January 2016 for $4.7 million after limitations in street parking affected the organization’s ability to reach new members, according to city records and the pastor.
“We love the building, we fixed it up very nicely, but it was restricting the growth of the church because of the parking. When we invited other churches, people couldn’t find spots,” Olive said.
“We enjoyed being there, but for me, for church, growth is the main concern — the saving of souls. And when the parking was restricting people from coming, things like that, we decided to move.”
The church moved to 1807 Pacific St. between Utica and Rochester avenues in Crown Heights in February and now has its own parking lot, Olive added.
A representative for 969 Bedford Ave. LLC was not immediately available for comment for details on the planned changes to the former building.
