Centenary adaptive reuse: "What about a homeless shelter?"

A regular reader offered this insightful comment about the impending sale of Centenary United Methodist Church.

Centenary United Methodist Church, downtown -- it's half a city block, now up for sale.

The disconnect between wants and needs is particularly vivid.

From the listing:

"A fantastic opportunity in Downtown New Albany. Maybe you're not looking for a church home, but what about living space? Something cool, hip and funky with a millennial vibe. We also need more senior housing with some independent living. You could mix it up with co-existence of space that caters to all walks of life. This property offers lots of creative uses. What about a boutique hotel?"

What about a homeless shelter? From the story:

Centenary does its share to feed those in need by opening its food pantry from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Free meals are also served at the church twice a week — at 6 p.m. Thursday and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Centenary serves 18 percent of Floyd County residents through its food pantry where those in need are allowed to take items once a month. Akins-Banman also said more families are coming to the weekly free meals.

"Yesterday [Tuesday] we had so many veterans come in who needed food," Akins-Banman said. "There is so much need."

Hopefully one of the other churches or organizations downtown pick up those Thursday and Sunday free meal times, because that's going to be a huge loss for the community.

Good point, Jim. Very good point.

But we must remember that City Hall as presently occupied will not publicly acknowledge the existence of unsightliness, whether homelessness, hunger or opioid addiction. The mayor believe irrefutable truth reflects badly on his hermetic "special interests first" kingdom, and so he stares resolutely in the opposite direction. Take the proposition to the city's top leaders, and boutique hotel wins in a landslide.

It's sad. Very sad.

Centenary United Methodist Church, downtown -- it's half a city block, now up for sale.

I took the photos in late August after learning Centenary's sale was impending, but saw no reason to "break" the story.

Everything in due time.

Now that it's public knowledge, reuse options are an interesting diversion; somewhere between 80 and 100 parking spaces are in back, which might also be prime for anti-car-centric infill. 

Mike Kopp has the realtor's brief. We don't need any more food and drink, do we?

Housing, on the other hand ...

Centenary United Methodist Church in New Albany for sale, by Chris Morris (Tom May Hyper Content Meatgrinder)

Congregation plans to move to another site

NEW ALBANY — Centenary United Methodist Church in New Albany will celebrate its 180th birthday next year. While the congregation continues to be very active in the community, the numbers of those attending Sunday service have dwindled in recent years. It is becoming harder and more expensive to maintain the building at 309 E. Spring St., prompting church members to make a difficult decision.

The property, including the church, parsonage and parking lot, is now for sale ...

The redevelopment of the Vincennes corridor might begin right here, at the former Ray's Exhaust & Radiator.

I walked down Vincennes Street to Mathes Pharmacy last week and noticed that Ray's Exhaust & Radiator looked deserted, because in spite of all the ups and downs in my employment history, it's hard to stop looking at buildings like this without seeing future breweries -- and yes, it's far enough removed from the high school to be licensed.

If I'm not mistaken, the irony in this instance is that until recently, and maybe even now, descendants of the family that used to own the brewery (circa 1900) on 10th Street between Spring and Market also had the Ray's property. 

On Monday, the "for sale" sign at Ray's was up. Just remember, if you're looking to make a million in the beer business, best start with five (million).

Two other vacant commercial properties are perched on Vincennes within a stone's throw of Ray's.

As you'll note by the presence of sharrow paint (already fading after last year's paving), Vincennes Street is "bicycle friendly."

(insert guffaws here)

Add just one thing, and the mini-commercial district is ready for its naming rights to be vended by the DemoDisneyDixiecrats -- after Redevelopment kicks in a few million from TIF.

The house next door is for sale. Now's the chance to start your own neighborhood association.

It's next door to ours, and the description here is absolutely correct: Lots of work is needed, and that's why the price is so good.

Restaurant and equipment for sale in downtown NA, formerly the Frenchman's.

Tell 'em you saw it here, and maybe I'll get a finder's pint.