MVCC buying church property

BY MIKE NOLAN mnolan@southtownstar.com February 24, 2012 4:36PM

Updated: February 24, 2012 8:08PM

Moraine Valley Community College is buying a church directly east of its Palos Hills campus and will convert the building into classroom space.

Moraine Valley Community Church, which approached the college about buying the building and land, will lease space in a Worth church to hold services, Pastor Mike Rotman said.

The college is paying $825,000 for the church and the five acres it sits on, according to Rotman and Mark Horstmeyer, a spokesman for the college.

Horstmeyer said the college hasn?t yet determined the types of classes that will be held in the church building, or how extensive of a renovation will be needed.

The church, 8601 W. 107th Place, sees the sale as a financial necessity.

?We are small and struggling financially, and we needed the income the sale would provide to continue as a congregation,? Rotman said.

March 11 will be the last service in the current building. After that, Moraine Valley will hold worship services in United Methodist Church of Worth, he said.

The Methodist church, 7100 W. 112th St., will hold its Sunday service at 9 a.m., and Rotman?s church at 11 a.m.

Moraine Valley?s food pantry, Elsie?s Pantry, will remain in Palos Hills, locating in early May to Savior Divine Lutheran Church, 10040 S. 88th Ave., Rotman said.

Horstmeyer said the college already owns property abutting the church, including a parking lot and a former golf driving range.

A contract for the purchase was signed Wednesday but the college won?t close on the deal until June, Rotman said.

?It?s difficult that we have to sell and leave our building, but now we are in two communities rather than just one,? he said, referring to the pantry remaining in Palos Hills.

Source: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/10835991-418/mvcc-buying-church-property.html

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