A historic but cash-strapped church in Albuquerque is offering to donate itself to the state of New Mexico in lieu of paying for expensive renovations.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the congregation of Immanuel Presbyterian Church voted unanimously to donate its building to the state after acknowledging it cannot afford the costs a much-needed upgrade.
“Following a comprehensive professional architectural assessment, the congregation has arrived at the difficult conclusion that it does not have adequate resources to complete the extensive renovations required to preserve the historic structure,” said Rev. Drew Henry, the church’s pastor, in a statement.
A spokesman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged the church and the state government were in negotiations over the 25,000-square-foot church property, which opened in 1950 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
State Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and State Rep. Marianna Anaya, both Albuquerque Democrats, secured $200,000 in capital improvement last year to study potential uses for the property. Anaya said the congregation wanted the property to become a community center.
However, the state itself cannot provide funding to a church, which would need a fiscal agent such as a county government.
“This is a highlight of my district,” said Sedillo Lopez. “I will do, personally, what I can as a state senator to preserve that building and to open it up to the community.”
Photo by MrBouncero / Wikimedia Commons
