The Observation Deck

Churches can be repurposed. A company I am familiar with did so on the East side. Quite impressive place.
http://www.ns-design.com/churchtrans.html

Thanks for posting the article, its informative. Gives some hope, but I still think its highly unlikely, and very rare, to find a developer which will keep the structure intact.

At the end it talks about plans for the church on 117th and Lake, What ever happen to those?

sunday morning 04/05/09







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http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/sac ... id=1550232

This week's Cleveland scene raises one point. The churches are demolished soon after decomissioning. this is done to avoid property taxes. Useless new construction codes and standards hinder the sale or conversion of the buildings to eccentric rich people or other christian denominations.

The Church buildings were constructed during better times. They are exemplary architecture. Their presence, and the activity of reasonably decent people in them, uplifts surrounding neighborhoods.

The modern race to the bottom renders them obsolete. In the suburbs you will find cheap new churches of plywood, plastic, and brick facades in the midst of houses constructed of plywood, plastic, and uniformly sided in bird-shit shades of white, grey, blue, or tope.

Thank you for this interesting article. I went to St. James' very creative Good Friday service last night, even though I am not a member, because it may be the last chance. It's beauty is breathtaking. I challenge every Lakewoodite to enter the heavy, ornate doors, look at the interior splendor, and not be moved to try to save this treasure. Yes, there are some patches, but as I mentioned before, architectural ruins all over the world are revered and visited by tourists.

There has got to be a solution. Lakewood could buy it and then the tax issue would go away. A fund could be established for its maintenance. Admission could be charged to view it. It could be rented for weddings by people who are not members of a church, but who like the setting. It could be rented as a concert venue. I would support some Lakewood tax dollars going toward it's upkeep - it brings value to Lakewood.

We are honored to have writer Michael Gill as a 'Deck participant. That was one of the best columns that I've read in a long, long time.