From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Missions Building transformation underway
From
"Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>
Date
11 Dec 1998 06:35:30
Date: December 11, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org
98a-74
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) - Nearly four years after the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) moved its general offices from the historic
Missions Building in Indianapolis' Irvington neighborhood, work is
underway to transform the former church headquarters into a senior
housing facility.
The Missions Building served as headquarters for the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada for more
than 60 years. In 1995, the administrative units operating in the
121,000 square foot Missions Building and two other
Indianapolis-based units moved to 65,000 square feet of space at the
Disciples Center in downtown Indianapolis.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Indiana Black Expo
Economic Development Corporation (IBEEDC) are the project's general
partners. Columbia Housing Corporation of Portland, Ore., is the
investment limited partner. Mansur Real Estate Services Inc.,
Indianapolis, is developing the project and managing construction.
Van Rooy Properties of Indianapolis will manage the Missions
Apartments once construction is complete.
"This is a wonderful, wonderful building," said Bob Bates, Mansur's
director of historic development. "It takes a team of people to make
these projects happen. We're very proud to be part of the team," he
said at a construction kick-off Dec. 9.
The Rev. Ryan Hazen, general consultant, Board of Church Extension
of Disciples of Christ Inc., has coordinated the Disciples' role in
determining the future of the Missions Building campus. On behalf of
the church, Hazen worked closely with the Irvington Community Council
in evaluating proposed uses for the property. "The restoration of
that building is real shot in the arm for the Irvington neighborhood.
There will be 79-plus residents moving into that neighborhood that
can be real assets to the community," he said.
The $6.5 million project is funded by the $4.2 million sale of
housing tax credits, HOME funds from the Indianapolis Department of
Metropolitan Development and a conventional loan. The church
contributed the building to the project, but neither the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) nor IBEEDC have invested cash. Both will
receive portions of development fees and eventually will receive
portions of revenue generated by the apartments.
The Missions Apartments will begin pre-leasing in the summer of 1999
with occupancy as early as October. The complex will feature 79
apartments: 51 single-bedroom; 12 two-bedroom; and 16 studios. The
apartments will be available for rent to adults 55 years of age and
older who have restricted income.
The Indianapolis Foundation has committed a grant of $150,000 toward
the preservation and rehabilitation of the Bona Thompson Library, the
eastern-most building in the Missions Apartments complex. The
Irvington Historical Society is managing the library project. The
refurbished building will house a local fine arts collection,
community meeting space and Irvington community offices.
-- end --
Note to Editors: Photo to be mailed.
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