SPOKANE, Wash. — The 35,000 square foot building that used to be the Bethany Presbyterian Church is currently sitting empty ever since an electrical fire in 2022, but it won’t stay that way much longer.
The pastor of the church says its congregation wanted to do some good for the Spokane community while rebuilding its church. It chose affordable housing because it is something the Spokane community really needs.
The church and its congregation are currently fundraising and applying for grants to turn the space into 22 affordable housing units.
“Some will be specifically designated for refugees and immigrant families and then some are just affordable housing for the Spokane community which there is a clear need for,” said Reverend Amy Seymour.
Being able to take on an affordable housing project is something the congregation has wanted to since since the fire.
“The fire, while devastating of course, really provided an opportunity to do more than they could have ever imagined doing,” Seymour said.
Part of this $12 million rebuilding program will also go toward rebuilding the church. It will include two residential buildings and a community building where the worship space will be along with classrooms and a community area.
“The city of Spokane has given the project a big grant and they have some other grants and they’re still looking for funding through a variety of places,” said Seymour.
Rev. Seymour hopes to start construction in the spring of 2026.
Although a recent executive order is freezing refugees entering the country, Seymour hopes they will be able to welcome refugees by the time Project Bethany is complete.
“Who knows what the political situation around refugee resettlement will be at that time, but there is no plans to change anything about this ministry,” Seymour said.
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