Convince St. Luke’s, PCI to give church more time

Spare the First Christian Church building! In the spring of 2011, a sizable segment of the local community showed up en masse for a community forum at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art about the Physicians' Clinic of Iowa medical complex plans. A large number of attendees spoke cogently about a desire to keep the medical plaza development from razing historical buildings and the neighborhood itself.

St. Luke's and PCI officials did not attend the forum, saying it was premature to do so until the city finalized the plan. They certainly would have been welcomed to attend simply to listen to citizens' concerns. Their choices of action then, and throughout this process, have increasingly caused many to question their integrity and good faith as community members.

Now, St. Luke's and PCI are choosing to tear down a church whose design was influenced by Louis Sullivan, accented with stained glass windows designed by the acclaimed Louis Millet, to pave a parking lot for 40 vehicles. This choice is as shortsighted as demolishing the Union Station Train Depot for parking back in the 1960s.

A group of concerned local citizens has stepped up to challenge the demolition and have begun to seek investors and developers to save this historical landmark. We hope that St. Luke's and PCI will give them time to do their level best to complete this process. Visit “savecrheritage” on Facebook to find out how to donate and locate current information.

Chris Cronbaugh

Cedar Rapids