i usually experience that the opposite way.

They should convert the function but keep the building mostly intact.

Bah..silly

Part of the GGG series?

Tax prep at Sears.

Banks at the supermarket.

Doctor's offices at the drug store.

Salvation at the gas station.

It was only a matter of time.

"For an extra dollar, your scratch-offs can be blessed by Monsignor Reggie."

"Now with Premium plus Holy Water."

The historical society won't let it happen. They should keep the building and convert it into something useful like apartments, a restaurant, a bar or something.

why sad tag?

We have a deconsecrated (sic?) church here in Pittsburgh that was turned into a restaurant/brewery. Makes an awesome IPA 90...It's called Churchworks brewery.

They don't want a gas station there? Fark them, let the owner open up an all nude, alcohol-free club (like they have in Vegas). I understand that the neighborhood wants to maintain a certain type of feel in their community, but is demolishing the building for a gas station really the worst usage for that plot?

I once had this idea of making a church and gas station all in one. And call it a "Pray and Pump". I figure it would be able to bypass gas taxes and all proceeds go to the "Church of Pump". Amen to the oil gods brother!!!

At least it will be something useful now.

I was always told that the "church" is not the building.

How much money have the residents poured into this to get it fixed up and save the property?

Bohemian: The historical society won't let it happen. They should keep the building and convert it into something useful like apartments, a restaurant, a bar or something.

I honest to god work for a historical society, and I really am getting a kick out of your reply.

I've yet to encounter a HS with enough political clout or financial resources to stop a developer. The presevation commission, which is part of the local government might have a chance of stopping the development, depending on if it of interest to the commission members, meaning either they will have to look at the gas station form their own homes, or stand to loose money on the deal.

/Not bitter at all.
//Seen it happen too many times to places with much more history.
///Not every old building should, can or will be saved. Fact o'life.

Nakito: Heh... Well, It's better than turning the congregation into gas stations.

I've said a prayer before eating a corndog bought at a gas station called the "Pump and Munch" in LaCrescent, MN, so I'm getting a kick...

Should make it an IHOP



They're just pancakes! You don't have to worship 'em!
Paaaaaancaaaaakes. PaaaAAAAAAAaaaancaaaaaaAAAAkes...

First catholic church of ass and munch.

/got nothin'.
// but 2 slashies
/// and six more days to CATURDAY!!!!!

Skyfrog: At least it will be something useful now.

Huh. You really don't understand the impact that churches have in communities, do you?

God--
We have a deconsecrated (sic?) church here in Pittsburgh that was turned into a restaurant/brewery. Makes an awesome IPA 90...It's called Churchworks brewery.

That place is awesome, I went there with my girlfriend over New Years. But a microbrew/restaurant is WAY better than a gas station

These people care enough about that building's historical significance that they don't want it turned into a gas station.

A restaurant or hotel, okay. But ZOMG! Not a gas station!

So, they won't chip in any money to buy the land and maintain the property. They're just going to complain instead.

m2thek: i usually experience that the opposite way.

lol. There's a place by me called the "Eat n' Park" and I always said they got it backwards.

BIG portions. Even BIGGER clientele. So much so that my ex gf once asked to go there and, not being able to think of the name, called it "The Big People Eater Place".

I called it that once when I was there. The Big People weren't amused. I left before I was eaten.

Huh. You really don't understand the impact that churches have in communities, do you?

Yeah, skyfrog! You never seen the traumatized look of a child after they where touched by a clergyman?

There is a place in the Rosslyn business district of Arlington, VA that has a gas station on the first floor and a chapel on the second.

When we used to drive by it when I was growing up my dad used to call it the "Gas 'n God"

Approves.

pavinrtheway: They should convert the function but keep the building mostly intact.

In Pulaski, NY there is a theatre converted into an auto parts store. The only exterior modification is plywood over the old ticket windows.

Separation of church and state. The city government has no business stepping in to "preserve" the church. If another church buys the property, so be it. If an apartment company buys the property, so be it. If a gas station buys the property, so be it.

czarangelus:
You're a dumbass.

/Excited about thier relocation

czarangelus: It seems as if some people can't tell the difference between for profit and right and wrong

Oh, I don't care either way. The gas station will only pay what it thinks is a meaningful price for the property, so if people are serious about preserving that building, maybe they can raise money and out-bid the gas station prospectors (or buy the land from them) instead of just whining about it.

It's been done beforeDamien not Evil: When we used to drive by it when I was growing up my dad used to call it the "Gas 'n God"

Something like this? (new window)

Hows about an abortion clinic?

Spay as you pray sort of thing.

czarangelus
TheCid: You're a dumbass.
That was, hands down, the most clever response I've seen on Fark

I could care less what happens to stuff like this unless it's a historical landmark.

/I don't want to get caught up in this debate I just wanted to say
// That was a pretty unoriginal response.

Danger Avoid Death: m2thek: i usually experience that the opposite way.

lol. There's a place by me called the "Eat n' Park" and I always said they got it backwards.

BIG portions. Even BIGGER clientele. So much so that my ex gf once asked to go there and, not being able to think of the name, called it "The Big People Eater Place".

I called it that once when I was there. The Big People weren't amused. I left before I was eaten.

I'm a big person who belongs to the First Church of Eat N' Park, so I really got a kick out of this reply.

/their salad bar is pure concentrated win

czarangelus: Money should not be the sole basis used to determine what heritage is expendable.

This "heritage" shiat is ridiculous. The Liberty Bell (both of them)? Yes, keep them around. Lincoln memorial? Sure. Smithsonian? Yep. Some random old-ass church that nobody outside of the city gives a shiat about? Nope.

God--: We have a deconsecrated (sic?) church here in Pittsburgh that was turned into a restaurant/brewery. Makes an awesome IPA 90...It's called Churchworks brewery.

Yeah, we've got an awesome Italian restaurant in Lexington (Joe B's) that's in a converted church building. I'm all about repurposing old structures.

TheCid: This "heritage" shiat is ridiculous. The Liberty Bell (both of them)? Yes, keep them around. Lincoln memorial? Sure. Smithsonian? Yep. Some random old-ass church that nobody outside of the city gives a shiat about? Nope.

TheCid, did you read czarangelus' Weeners to me? Might want to make sure your debate opponent is coherent before you start wasting your time.

On the other hand, if you're only here because maybe WoW's server is down or dinner's still in the oven, have at it.

Danger Avoid Death: m2thek: i usually experience that the opposite way.

lol. There's a place by me called the "Eat n' Park" and I always said they got it backwards.



I have eaten at that place on occasion. It's around Buena Vista and Victory, right? The building always looked to me like somebody interrupted a demolition in progress and set up a restaurant.

dragonchild: TheCid: This "heritage" shiat is ridiculous. The Liberty Bell (both of them)? Yes, keep them around. Lincoln memorial? Sure. Smithsonian? Yep. Some random old-ass church that nobody outside of the city gives a shiat about? Nope.

TheCid, did you read czarangelus' Weeners to me? Might want to make sure your debate opponent is coherent before you start wasting your time.

On the other hand, if you're only here because maybe WoW's server is down or dinner's still in the oven, have at it.

I'm well aware that czarangelus is a complete dumbass. What, a philosophy major or something else equally useless?

Y'all are just a few years behind us Europeans in emerging from the fog of religion (or maybe a few thousand years in the case of the Republicans).

In Edinburgh, even famous churches like the Tron and the Tollbooth Kirk have been deconsecrated and turned into something more useful like theatres and pubs.

This is simply not news.

czarangelus: Money should not be the sole basis used to determine what heritage is expendable.

Churches are closed down and de-consecrated all the time. Why you might ask? They are no longer profitable. It's happening right in my town.

tdpatriots12:

+1 and a golf clap.

As someone who knows the area well enough and has a parent who lives in the area, I can fill you guys in on a few more details about this which the article neglected to mention.

1. Services have not been held at this church for the better part of a decade. This was due to the expansion of I-235 which is about a block and a half away from this church. Numerous people from the city, county and whatnot have declared the building structurally unsound.

2. This building was closed abruptly and personal items belonging to some of the congregation are still inside. The city refused access to anyone to go in and remove their belongings.

3. The place has been stripped of it's copper and metal fixtures by homeless and other asshats who can't read the "NO TRESPASSING" signs and disregard the 8 foot tall chain link fence around the perimeter. The cost to refit the place AND make the building structurally sound would require a small fortune. OTOH, The Sherman Hill neighborhood is full of people with more money than they know what to do with, so this is a possibility.

Anyone who lives in Des Moines and pays attention to things like this knows all too well that this building has been a giant clusterfark ever since the I-235 expansion. It's a travesty to the congregation who used to meet there as well as people in Polk County who enjoy the smorgasborg of older architecture in this city. Sadly, the City of Des Moines seems to have little if any regard for it's local history outside of a few areas which can be made into chic and trendy shopping/dining areas with $200k+ condos.


Also of note, for those of you Farkers who enjoy irony (or debate about what does and doesn't count as irony), there is a Planned Parenthood clinic across the street from this church. Back in the 80s and 90s it was the scene of protests damn near every weekend.

edrick: Danger Avoid Death: m2thek: i usually experience that the opposite way.

lol. There's a place by me called the "Eat n' Park" and I always said they got it backwards.



I have eaten at that place on occasion. It's around Buena Vista and Victory, right? The building always looked to me like somebody interrupted a demolition in progress and set up a restaurant.

That's the one. The big problem is that after eating there, 72 hours later you're hungry again.

Des Moines?

Fluff Girl: Des Moines?

Can get anything at a truck stop, eh? =D

Sad? One less church means one less bunch of hateful followers. Good riddance to miserable people.