Final talks under way; church's days numbered

A distinctive terra-cotta-domed church sanctuary that has been part of downtown Seattle's architectural and spiritual landscape since 1910, and has been a target for historic preservation since the mid-1980s, is almost certainly destined for demolition.

Seattle First United Methodist Church is in final negotiation to sell its Fifth Avenue property to developer Martin Selig, who plans to level the historic sanctuary and its annex to build a skyscraper.

First United also would get a Selig parcel in Belltown where it would build a modern church building.

The decision to abandon the historic sanctuary has been emotional, said the Rev. Kathlyn James, First United's senior pastor. The 1,200-seat sanctuary, with its 66-foot-high ceiling, is too large and costly to maintain for a congregation that has been around since 1853, almost since Seattle began.

By leveraging the value of its downtown land, the congregation would earn security for its future and allow the church to continue its myriad services, ranging from feeding homeless people to hosting support groups, lectures and prayer groups.

"There's been a lot of grief," James said. "It's taken a lot of courage for the church to put its ministry and mission before its attachment to the building. There are a lot of memories associated with that building. It's a very difficult trade-off, but essentially our survival as a church was at stake."

Historic preservationists who tried to broker a deal to save the sanctuary have all but given up. The sanctuary cannot be preserved through landmarking because the state Supreme Court exempted church buildings from such designations, ruling in 1996 that it interferes with a church's freedom of religion.

Friends of First United Methodist Church, a citizens group that formed in 2004 to save the sanctuary, fought legal battles but lost. The group tried to find a preservation-minded developer to buy the property from First United but failed.

"We certainly are still open to talking to them, but we really do need to move ahead," James said. "In the absence of any viable alternative, this certainly is an exciting one."

James declined to divulge the specifics of the agreement, as they are still being negotiated. But Jennifer Emerson of Friends of First United said she thinks Selig's offer is valued at about $30 million and includes an agreement to build the new Belltown church for First United.

James said she hopes construction of the new church could begin by the middle of 2007 and that the congregation could stay downtown until the new building is dedicated.

Preservationists say they are concerned that demolition of the old sanctuary could occur before development plans for the new building in its place are firm. Anthea Hartig, regional director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said there are examples across the west of historic buildings being torn down with nothing put up in their place because economics surrounding the deal changed.

Details about Selig's development are not public, but the neighboring Rainier Club, itself housed in a historic structure, may want a gym for its members in the new tower. The private club had worked with First United to redevelop the parcel.

Neither the Rainier Club nor Martin Selig Real Estate officials returned phone calls Friday.

James said First United's new church would be built on a half-block on the east side of Third Avenue, between Battery and Wall streets, where there is now a parking lot and vacant one-story building.

She said the building would be either two or three stories high with an underground garage. The design would preserve westerly views from Selig's 14-floor Fourth and Battery Building, which would be behind it.

According to First United's Web site, the congregation is Seattle's oldest, founded in 1853, two years after the Denny Party landed at Alki. The first worship service took place in a log cabin and was attended by the entire white population of Seattle at the time — 30 people.

The current sanctuary, on Fifth between Columbia and Marion Streets, was dedicated in 1910 and built for $205,000. It was once the city's center for worship, culture and the arts. Today, the building lies in the shadow of Seattle's tallest building, the 76-story Columbia Tower.

Emerson said the razing of the sanctuary would be a sad day for Seattle.

"It just chips away at the elements that make a city distinctive, interesting and beautiful," she said. "When we lose buildings like that, we are taking away the character of a place, especially when all that is remains is a forest of office towers."

Stuart Eskenazi: 206-464-2293 or seskenazi@seattletimes.com