Downtown Cedar Rapids church sold

A historic church in downtown Cedar Rapids is the latest acquisition for a businessman who already owns several buildings in the area.

Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 Third Ave. SE, was reportedly sold to Steve Emerson, president of Aspect Architecture, last week, the church's pastor, the Rev. Tom Capo said today. The sale is expected to be final in mid-July.

Capo said the congregation accepted Emerson's offer of $705,000 on May 16. The congregation had originally asked $795,000 for the building, but Capo said it appraised at $715,000.

Emerson owns 11 buildings in the downtown Cedar Rapids area. He could not be reached for comment this morning regarding the purchase of the church.

Capo said the congregation must now determine whether it wants to build a new facility or purchase an existing building and remodel to fit the congregation's needs. A worship service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday at the building that formerly housed Fin & Feather, 3338 Center Point Rd. NE, in Cedar Rapids.

“Being out of your own space has its own challenges,” Capo said. “Whether you choose to be somewhere temporarily or you choose to buy or build a new place you have to make it somehow meet your needs.”

The Fin & Feather building, he said, “is a giant square building” with little to no office or classroom space, something that could be advantageous to the congregation in the long run, he said.

“This place has a great deal of flexibility, we can build inside the big square building,” he said.