The twists and turns in the fate of the former Christ Lutheran Church building on the corner of Sparks and Park continues as a new owner has decided to turn it into a business.
In 2014 the lot located at 3227 and 3229 Sparks Ave. behind the Lazelle mini mall was rezoned from public to commercial usage with the new owner at the time planning to tear it down and put in a parking lot.
But the ecclesiastical structure has been given another lease on life now that a new owner has purchased the building and two lots and the city has granted a development permit for business use.
The new owner is numbered company 645999 BC Ltd and what it wants to do is “retain the existing building and undertake upgrades to enable it to be available and attractive to potential retail tenants,” according to the development permit.
The permit includes provisions for landscaping and upgrades to the parking area and the city will cancel the interior lot line so the two parcels can be consolidated.
Council heard at the March 9 regular council meeting how the church steeple and rectangular glass brick window display of a cross will be removed, and the existing stucco repainted.
New window and window trim, and an accessibility ramp, 10 paved parking spaces were called “a significant enhancement” in the permitting papers granted by council.
Faced with a declining membership, the remaining members of the Christ Lutheran congregation decided to wind up church functions in 2014 and put the building up for sale.
Proceeds from the sale of the church were then used to support various community projects.
