Congregation likes plan to save old building downtown
Praise the Lord and pass the blueprints for Belltown church

By KATHY MULADY
P-I REPORTER

First United Methodist Church members embraced an offer Sunday that could save the seemingly doomed historic church in downtown Seattle from the wrecking ball.

The offer would preserve the old sanctuary for public use and provide cash and property for the group to build a new church in Belltown.

Mike Kane / P-I
The 1907 First United Methodist Church at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Columbia Street would be preserved under a proposal from developer Nitze-Stagen.
The Sunday meeting was the latest in a controversy this summer over the future of the historic building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Columbia Street.

Just three months ago, the same congregation voted overwhelmingly to accept an offer from skyscraper developer Martin Selig that would give them a new church in Belltown, but would require them to first tear down their existing church, which was built in 1907.

"That kind of kicked off the activity. The threat of demolition on this site was taken seriously," said Kurt Armbruster, a member of the church building committee.

Soon after the June vote, two other developers, Nitze-Stagen and Sabey Corp., which owns the Seattle P-I building, raced to First United Methodist with alternatives to save the sanctuary.

Elected officials, including Mayor Greg Nickels, King County Executive Ron Sims and King County Councilman Dow Constantine tried to encourage church officials to consider the alternatives.

Mike Kane / P-I
First United Methodist Church members meet for Sunday services. They are expected to vote next month on a plan to save the church.
The delay frustrated Selig, who withdrew his offer in August. Sabey's offer faded around the same time, after several City Council members said they wouldn't support part of Sabey's plan. Sabey would have required eliminating height restrictions on property to be built across the street from City Hall.

The congregation is expected to vote on the Nitze-Stagen proposal next month.

Kevin Daniels, president of Nitze-Stagen, was greeted almost as a white knight Sunday as he outlined his proposal to the congregation and answered questions.

Congregation member Lisa Newbury-Smith, a fan of historic architecture, said she was saddened by the plan to raze the 99-year-old sanctuary, but remains convinced that people are more important than buildings.

Under the latest proposal, First United Methodist will be able to continue, and possibly expand, its food and shelter programs in Belltown, said the church pastor, the Rev. Kathlyn James.

Church officials have said that their mission of serving the homeless is hampered by the cost of maintaining the crumbling building, which was further damaged during the Nisqually Quake.

"I love this building, my kids love this building. It is beautiful, but it is too big and too expensive for us," Newbury-Smith said.

Mike Kane / P-I
The Rev. Kathlyn James, First United Methodist Church

I would be sad to see it go too. That is a beautiful old church--have been inside it many times and it is a landmark when you come off the freeway. Wondering why they can't build the tower above it or around it--or at least preserve part of the facade in the new building. Oh, well, I guess that's progress, but it's good to see some other demo guys are interested in trying to save these landmarks sometimes too.