So I’m thinking about buying this property.
Click the picture to see the details.
Any ideas on how to convert the sanctuary into usuable living space? I’d probably convert the basement into 3 or 4 bedrooms. Remodel the existing kitchen into a real kitchen.
The price is great, zoning is a non issue, no problems with parking.
I always wanted an organ, and a bell tower.
I wish I had a reason;
my flaws are open season
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Replies
Sanctuary would make a great home theatre!
I believe gunner and Luka are both ordained ministers.
Have you givin any thought to maybe having guest ministers come for a short time and preach the word according to..........
Just a thought
Doug
How many sq feet is the sanctuary? I think I'd go into it trying to put all the public rooms into it with some partial height walls defining separate spaces. Move the kitchen into it as well as the dining and living areas. Would make a fantastic entertaining space. And then there's the basketball court concept.
http://logancustomcopper.com
http://grantlogan.net/
It's like the whole world's walking pretty and you can't find no room to move. - the Boss
I married my cousin in Arkansas - I married two more when I got to Utah. - the Gourds
I'm not sure of the dimensions. I'm meeting the real estate agent Monday night.
I was thinking about the partition wall idea as well. I'm worried that it would give the feel of cubicles.
I've had my fill of basketball after Pitt's pathetic showing last night in the Big East championship game.
I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
Wow, that place is awesome, and your mortgage payments would be less than my truck payments!
What's your goal? Live in it, sell, rent? Do you want to convert the whole thing into living space?
I'd probably live there. I've been looking for a house with "character", but haven't found one yet. I've been stockpiling materials to build a timber frame in the near future, but I'm not sure I want to take on such a big project.
The church is very intriguing to me because I could convert the basement into living space relatively quickly, and move in. Leaving the sanctuary, and major remodeling to be done while I live there.
The risk involved is the resale value. If converted from church to house, the property would be even harder to sell.
Like you said the price is right.
I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
eyepulp posts on here sometimes just last week I do believe, he is converting an old church to a house--checkout his blog, the address is somewhere in the archives.
Some is doing a church right now.I thought that it was a in the photo folder, but I could not find it..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I found a several links to him.Now that I know the name you can use ADVANCED SEARCH to find his other posts.http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=81654.1&search=y
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=76752.1&search=y
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=74930.1&search=y
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Leave the sanctuary as open as you can. The tricky part will be adding a bathroom. No WAY do you want that open to the world<g>.There a church that was converted to a restaurant a couple of towns upriver from me. Can't remember the name of the restaurant but it's in St Charles IL. I believe there's also a church for sale in Batavia. Don't remember if it was converted to a house or an antique shop tho.50F & sunny. The whole weekend is to be GLORIOUS! Happy spring dance...cha, chacha. Happy spring dance...cha, chacha.
I'm not so sure, there's always buyers out there like you that are attracted to the unique. I'd definitely consider a church home!
and...holy crap! 60k!? How could you NOT buy it! ;o)
Don't let tower Power go to your head - or somebody will ring your bell!
;)
I thought you already had an organ...
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Leave the open spaces open. Be conservative when taking out or adding walls. You can delineate spaces in other ways. For example, use large sculptures or artwork to separate rooms without creating the feel of cubicles. Use screens. A collection of properly designed bookshelves can carve a library out of the space. Fabric, hung properly, can create a dining room. Keep existing rooms as is, but fix/finish them to a high quality as you re-purpose them. The office or bell tower can become the bedroom, etc. Just avoid any urge to add conventional looking elements--create a closet that isn't just new sheetrock walls with a bi-fold door, for example. By doing so, you give yourself flexibility, you honor the uniqueness of the space AND preserve its resale value.
My question is the taxes. The property is worth $60k and has >$3k in taxes? Are taxes 5% of value there?!?!?!
I noticed that also, and I'm not sure where they got that number from. It should be 2%, or $1200.
I have to ask the agent tomorrowI wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
at 60k it says alot about the market there... might be worth more converted ... around here a new church is started ever 20 min ... i rent shopping center space to them sometimes when they have 12 members...
my idea would be to make the basement a garage workshop... looks like on the one ground level side you could knock thru with one or two garage doors...
then i get a mail order preacher deal... and call it a church and keep it off the tax rolls... surprised it even shows taxes... at least here they pay none...thought that was everywhere...
p
The neighborhood is odd. It's not a bad neighborhood by any means. It's just full of small old mining houses. Most of the homeowners there are the older 60+ crowd.
Here are a couple more properties:
View Image
View ImageI wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
What's this town's proximity to the 'burg?http://logancustomcopper.com
http://grantlogan.net/
With no traffic, it's probably 35-40 minutes drive from downtown. Slightly south, and east of the city.
Only about 8 miles further east of where I live now.I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
Hate to even ask ... but what is the heat sorce .. and how many $ to make it a comfortable temperture to be inside.
Love the place though!!
It'd be a perfect pool hall....
(Edit: sorry, meant to post to OP...)
Edited 3/12/2007 9:47 pm ET by Stray
Almost bought a church 20 years ago, with the same idea. Single @ the time, got talked out of it. Big mistake. I'd go for it. Great rooms are the way to go and define areas with furniture settings.
I think This Old House once did a church in CA. Check there website.
So Quasimodo, you're thinking of living there? Do you have bats in yer belfry? ;-)
Definitely keep the big sanctuary as open as you can, like an urban loft. Move the kitchen there, living room, dining room. There are lots ofways to partition off part of the sanctuary without ruining it. You might want a study there. you could 'float' a block in the middle with a pantry, and powder room in it, facing a wall, and then use the back of that for the kitchen wall.
I helped renovated a church into a house for a prominent hair salon owner in the Pittsburgh area, on the south side. he used the main sanctuary for living, created a small bedroom with a loft above, then used the other floor for a large salon/photo area.
I'm not too far away- in Edgewood. Let me know if you are interested in having an architect look at it.
Cool. Always good to see people on the boards from around Pittsburgh.
I have a good customer of mine looking for an architect. Residential additon to an old farm house in Murrysville. If you are interested shoot me an email.
Last week, I was working on a project above Shoots cafe in the Southside. Another project we are working on is for Mercy hospital on 9th street. Between the Holiday Inn on 10th and the school bus garage on 8th.I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
bell tower would be a great place for a nice built in rifle rack.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Wow. Barring no garage, small lot, any problems with mechanicals, roof leaks, etc., it looks great. That place would go for 3x the price here, easily.
Also nice in that it looks like you could take your time with it. My 2 cents . . . don't try to shoehorn a bunch of divided uses into the sanctuary. It's a unique space, treat it as such and avoid convention.
Yeah, I'm stoked to crawl around it tomorrow.
I'm going for a drive by when my girlfriend gets home from work. I'm not sure it's still in use or not. I might be able catch a mass if it is(I'll try to avoid the lightning strikes).I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
Well, I looked at the property tonight. It's just not feasible. There is no parking, or yard.
The building was built in 1902, and the foundation(mostly hidden) is in severe disrepair. The sanctuary space is great, but the rest of the building is water stained, and old.
I really wanted this to work, but there are just too many budget busters. We have 6 vehicles between the 2 of us, and parking is a major concern. There is a house for sale across the street. Buying it for a parking lot is an option, but not very realistic.
I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season
Darn, darn, darn. Hey, is there anyway you can build an UNDERGROUND garage? Hmmm, I suspect that I'm trying to spend ALOT of your money.70F & sunny tomorrow. Happy spring dance...cha, chacha. Happy spring dance...cha, chacha.
Oh well. I was rooting for you on this one. Something else will pop up.http://logancustomcopper.com
http://grantlogan.net/
"We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart?"
I keep thinking...."and they're paying $3k taxes for THAT?"Sorry your dream of a project didn't flesh out, but another will come along...
Edited 3/12/2007 9:49 pm ET by CloudHidden
Not to burst your bubble but............got $60K cash?
Not too many lenders will lend on such a unique property. Why? because they know it will take them several years to sell it if you decide not to pay the mortgage.