A converted church in Fishtown that was once poised for demolition to make way for residential lofts has been sold for $675,000.
It's the latest development for the East Montgomery Ave M.E. church on Frankford Avenue, which served as an apartment building until developers bought it last year for $1,000,000.
After neighbors protested against the proposed demolition, the developers put the property back on the market in February for $795,000 to see if anyone wanted to take it off their hands.
It's not clear yet who bought the 6,200-square-foot church for $675,000. Property records still list Frankford Street Properties as the owner and calls to the agents who handled the purchase were not returned to Curbed Philly.
But the Neighborhood Preservation Alliance, a community organization that aims to preserve historic structures and cultural integrity in Philly, made an announcement about the purchase on their Facebook page:
On March 19th we learned the property was officially sold to an unknown buyer who is interested in preserving the structure. We have been assured a clause has been written into the agreement of sale indicating the church is to remain intact and not to be demolished.
The East Montgomery Ave M.E. church was built in the late 1850s and 1860s, and it is not a historic property. Regardless, it's a big win for the residents who rallied to save the structure.
- East Montgomery Ave M.E. Church Sold to Buyer, Church Structure to Remain Intact [SpiritNews]
- Once planned for demo, Fishtown Church now for sale [Curbed Philly]
- Developers seek to demolish Fishtown church [Curbed Philly]