The Historical Commission recently approved a plan to preserve and redevelop the historic True Gospel Tabernacle Family Church in South Philadelphia, writes Jake Blumgart for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Atlis Real Estate Partners has proposed 33 residential units with a rentable event space in the sanctuary of the former church.
This proposal would preserve the complex, which was historically designated since 1967.
“We’ve seen too many historic churches lost in Philadelphia in recent years, and here is an exception that will hopefully serve as a model for future adaptive reuse of similar properties,” said Paul Steinke, president of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, at the Historical Commission’s December meeting.
Since 2017, Philadelphia has lost 12 historic places of worship as the recent real estate boom has seen land values soar in long-neglected neighborhoods. Meanwhile, 28 such buildings were demolished between 2009 and 2016.
However, Philadelphia’s track record of preservation and demolitions are neck and neck, with housing as the most common use for repurposed old religious buildings.
Partners For Sacred Places found that prior to 2017, two dozen churches had been repurposed as single-family homes or apartment buildings.
“The numbers are growing year after year,” said Bob Jaeger, president of the organization.
Read more about the preservation and redevelopment of True Gospel Tabernacle Family Church at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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