Historic listing no hindrance to sale of church

What first appeared to be a complication in the sales of the Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist turns out not to be an issue after all.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library board this month selected the block housing The Gazette and KCRG-TV9 as its preferred location for a new library.

In addition, the library board raised the possibility of buying Peoples Church, directly behind The Gazette, and tearing it down to make space for surface parking.

Peoples Church, at 600 Third Ave. SE, is on the National Register of Historic Places - a listing that generally involves a lengthy approval process to make any changes.

But it turns out the church has never received any federal money, such as tax incentives, to maintain the structure as a historic site.

The church was placed on the Register not because of its architecture but because of a series of early-20th century visits from the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton, a famous preacher.

Since the church has received no federal monies to commemorate those visits, that means the owner of the building is free to do whatever it wishes with the building, according to Carol Shull, keeper of the National Register with the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.

“A listing on the Register does not prevent an owner from demolishing a historic property, if there is no federal involvement,” she said.

The Rev. Tom Capo, pastor of Peoples Church, said the church, built in 1875, has been for sale for several months. It's listed for $795,000.

Many congregation members are sad to see the building go but recognize more money would have to go into the building's upkeep than into creating new ministries if they were to stay.

“We don't have the finances to keep up the building and do the outreach that we want to do,” Capo said.