A permit has been submitted for initial interior demolition work for Living Stone's new church at 11 North Sierra Street downtown.
COMMERCIAL DEMOLITION - INTERIOR. THE WORK WILL INCLUDE DEMOLITION OF SOME INTERIOR WALLS, DOORS AND FLOORING.
I'm going to say upfront, I'm not happy that this building is being converted into a church. I don't think it provides the activation a riverfront property needs in one of the core commercial areas of downtown. I have nothing against churches, but I do worry it won't do anything to improve the activation of this area, which is noticebly down since the movie theater closed.
I am happy they are keeping the retail along the river corridor, and possibly expanding those spaces to include restrooms and larger footprints for the tenants.
When I saw their intiial plans, I was not happy that the initial plan was to make the First Street frontage the 'back' of the church, with no activation along that street at all. When I met with them I urged them to rethink that, so hopefully the plan is to keep or expand upon the retail spaces along First Street as well.
I'm curious what their revised plans will be.