Unitarian Universalist Society exploring new site options

IOWA CITY - Officials with Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City are exploring their site options for a new church now that plans to purchase East Iowa City property seem to have fallen through.

A Friday letter from the UUSIC New Facilities Committee to the congregation states that plans to purchase Jeff Larson's land west of ACT in East Iowa City - property society officials had been eying for several months - are no longer feasible.

'It's a beautiful piece of property,” The Rev. Steven Protzman said. 'There's disappointment that that doesn't seem to be panning out, but we will find our way.”

According to the letter, Larson has signed a purchase agreement with another developer for the site and the new asking price of $1.7 million for 2.7 buildable acres, without available parking options, did not meet the congregation's needs.

Tim Adamson, church member and chairman of the facilities steering committee, said finding a site with room for parking has become one of the biggest challenges.

'We have discovered that parking is a huge issue we will face no matter where we go. It takes space and it is very expensive,” Adamson said. 'This is something we really did not anticipate being such a factor.”

Now members of the society are vetting other potential properties with the help of legal counsel and architects.

'We are examining a number of sites, and there is no clear front-runner yet, but in any case we know we need to maximize what we can get from our current property,” Adamson said.

Active negotiations also are underway to finalize a purchase agreement for the sale of the society's current church at 10 S. Gilbert.

'We're pushing and pulling,” Adamson added. 'We're trying to get a contract to sell our property and simultaneously trying to find the best location to move to. Both at once.”

Society officials say they plan to include a contingency in the sale agreement to ensure that the congregation maintains a place to worship until the new church is built.

Ultimately, the full congregation will be asked to vote to approve a sale of the current church and purchase of a new location.

UUSIC's congregation voted earlier this year - with a 92 percent approval rate - to move forward with plans to sell the church at 10 S. Gilbert St. and move to a new location.

About one month ago, the society's board of trustees voted to apply for a demolition permit for the 107-year-old church with hopes that doing so will pre-empt any plans by area residents to apply for a historic landmark designation of the site and ultimately make the property more appealing to potential buyers.

While UUSIC's future location has yet to be chosen, Rev. Protzman said all those involved are determined to make sure all options are weighed and the best choice is made.

'We are stewards of the congregation's resources and future and it's very important to investigate and make the most well-informed decision,” he said. 'This is huge, this congregation hasn't made a decision of this scope in well over 100 years.”