Title: Missions Building transformation underway
Date: December 11, 1998
Disciples News Service Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98a-74
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) - Nearly four years after the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) moved its general offices from the historic Missions Building in Indianapolis' Irvington neighborhood, work is underway to transform the former church headquarters into a senior housing facility.
The Missions Building served as headquarters for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada for more than 60 years. In 1995, the administrative units operating in the 121,000 square foot Missions Building and two other Indianapolis-based units moved to 65,000 square feet of space at the Disciples Center in downtown Indianapolis.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Indiana Black Expo Economic Development Corporation (IBEEDC) are the project's general partners. Columbia Housing Corporation of Portland, Ore., is the investment limited partner. Mansur Real Estate Services Inc., Indianapolis, is developing the project and managing construction. Van Rooy Properties of Indianapolis will manage the Missions Apartments once construction is complete.
"This is a wonderful, wonderful building," said Bob Bates, Mansur's director of historic development. "It takes a team of people to make these projects happen. We're very proud to be part of the team," he said at a construction kick-off Dec. 9.
The Rev. Ryan Hazen, general consultant, Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ Inc., has coordinated the Disciples' role in determining the future of the Missions Building campus. On behalf of the church, Hazen worked closely with the Irvington Community Council in evaluating proposed uses for the property. "The restoration of that building is real shot in the arm for the Irvington neighborhood. There will be 79-plus residents moving into that neighborhood that can be real assets to the community," he said.
The $6.5 million project is funded by the $4.2 million sale of housing tax credits, HOME funds from the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development and a conventional loan. The church contributed the building to the project, but neither the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) nor IBEEDC have invested cash. Both will receive portions of development fees and eventually will receive portions of revenue generated by the apartments.
The Missions Apartments will begin pre-leasing in the summer of 1999 with occupancy as early as October. The complex will feature 79 apartments: 51 single-bedroom; 12 two-bedroom; and 16 studios. The apartments will be available for rent to adults 55 years of age and older who have restricted income.
The Indianapolis Foundation has committed a grant of $150,000 toward the preservation and rehabilitation of the Bona Thompson Library, the eastern-most building in the Missions Apartments complex. The Irvington Historical Society is managing the library project. The refurbished building will house a local fine arts collection, community meeting space and Irvington community offices.
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