Pantagraph.com | News | Church for sale leaves opening for prime uptown spot

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Googly eyes wrote on Aug 22, 2007 11:43 PM:

" Does any remember when Franklin avenue was a brick lined boulevard that connected two universities of higher learning ? Jesse Fell ? How do like me now? At one time B/N was famous for that. "

Man Mountain wrote on Aug 22, 2007 11:40 PM:

" If you think that BN is a screwed up place with religious zealots then you should get out. They were here long before you and they will be around long after you leave! "

whatever... wrote on Aug 22, 2007 5:09 PM:

" having recently moved to the area I am not all that impressed. This is a rather religious town a little too much so for my taste. I personally like the building and would like to see it put to a better use. I do not agree with or attend church. I would like there to be more social activities for young professionals. However most everyone I have met says that their social life is a church. I find this to be more then a little nuts. As for the comments here is just reinforces my view that BN is one screwed up place full of religious zealots. As for a mosque I would not mind that, however the tone of the comment suggests that many would. As for a good nightclub that is something that I would very much like to see. It would make for a more interesting and potentially enjoyable town. "

YAH!! wrote on Aug 22, 2007 4:52 PM:

" We can all stand up and help fight the war on Christianity. Less churches are better for everyone. "

To: I know wrote on Aug 22, 2007 3:45 PM:

" Great comment!! LMAO...... Bloomington resident. "

Re: Osama wrote on Aug 22, 2007 3:36 PM:

" How is that uptown/downtown causing them to leave? I'm sorry, but I have not seen any signs down there telling people to stay away from the church. Or do you just need a scapegoat? "

Okay Normal Town Council wrote on Aug 22, 2007 3:31 PM:

" Well I am sure property taxes will begoing up soon so that the Normalo Town Council can buy this building despite the citizens furor and turn it into some chain store that will put more family businesses to the curb. It is quite sad. Although I was not a member, I took my son to the SPICE program that was housed there for many years. It was a lovely church back then. I hope the building stays too. But, I doubt that the town council will have any part of that, They will buy under immenent domain it to make it into a parking lot that will cost tax payers millions. "

Osama bin Laden wrote on Aug 22, 2007 2:24 PM:

" Thank UpTown Normal!! Its been a pleasure working with you fighting the war on Christianity! "

To Reader wrote on Aug 22, 2007 1:08 PM:

" You hit the nail on the head. "

Reader wrote on Aug 22, 2007 12:41 PM:

" Interesting that this story was the front page banner headline in the printed copies of the Pantagraph. It didn't read "Historic Church to Close", or even Normal Congreation Calls It Quits". Rather, The headline was "Prime Uptown Location to Open". Even the Pantagraph's headlines indicate its interest in a "tear down and spend money on development" mentality, more like a real easte magazine than a local newspaper. "

To any chance wrote on Aug 22, 2007 12:12 PM:

" It really doesnt matter what he/she/it, is thinking! It is really just a matter of respect. We are open to believe and worship as we want but to snub others beliefs is just sick. Grow up. "

to: Midtown wrote on Aug 22, 2007 11:58 AM:

" Awesome idea. "

I'm gonna buy it... wrote on Aug 22, 2007 11:41 AM:

" ...and turn it into a bar! "

Don't Destroy It wrote on Aug 22, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Someone should buy it and turn it into a nightclub/bar and call it Drunky McChurchelstien's! Or The Holy Drunkerd. Or Praise Booze. Or Drunk in Church Again. Or The Lord's Boozebin. Or Pray for Beer. etc... "

Brenstalka wrote on Aug 22, 2007 10:13 AM:

" Perfect spot for a church-themed strip club. "

Sad to see wrote on Aug 22, 2007 10:05 AM:

" This is the fate of many traditional churches who offer a nuanced and compassionate view of Christianity. They're being driven out by all the flashy, holier-than-thou evangelical drive-throughs whose idea of faith is hating 'fags' and worshipping Bush. As Woody Allen once said, Jesus would puke if he saw what was being done in his name these days. "

mrd wrote on Aug 22, 2007 9:22 AM:

" They were trying to 'save' this church back in '98 or '99 - I remember being handled fliers in the street. A church is more than a building, if it is struggling based on locale, then let it be sold and everyone be happy about it. I don't think this location has prospered in many years. "

Big Man wrote on Aug 22, 2007 9:18 AM:

" Does anyone read an entire article anymore? The church is closing because its congregation is aging and they have not been able to attract younger congregants. "

Goodbye to yet another beautiful building wrote on Aug 22, 2007 9:13 AM:

" It is sad that another beautiful building is going to be demolished just so Uptown can have a consistent (soon to be boring) brick façade. I liked the limestone and dark marble of the Commerce Bank building, but alas, it did not fit the cookie cutter look. What’s next, the Normal Theater? "

member wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:55 AM:

" The church has been around for a long time, and I have been a member for almost 20 years, and it will be a sad day when a Starbucks or something else in the "Uptown" mold is sitting in that spot. However, attendance is lucky to be more than 30 on a given sunday and that is just not enough anymore. "

Hizzzoner wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:46 AM:

" What Uptown needs is a Monorail linking Uptown Normal to Downtown Bloomington ! "

Tired of new buildings wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:29 AM:

" PLEASE use the building. It's fantastic in it's design. "

donate it wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:27 AM:

" Go private(taxable), then at twn of nml land acquisition rates, $60-120+/sf, give it to a worthy cause, write-off a million or more. "

Midtown wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:08 AM:

" If we are going to continue this farce of calling it uptown then I am going to push for calling it Midtown. That would make; Fairview pool Upper West Side; Shelbourne Apartments, Upper East Side; IWU, the Village; Franklin Park, Little Italy; Holy Trinity, SOHO; Miller Park is now Battery Park; BCC, Queens; Corporate South, Brooklyn; Ironwood, Harlem; Prarie Vista, Staten Island. I guess the West side would be New Jersey. Sounds about right. "

Any chance wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:04 AM:

" Who knows what "Bye Church" is thinking? But, gee, any chance to run someone down for not wanting anything to do with a church. Here they come. Feel free to trash people that think differently than you. "

A tragedy wrote on Aug 22, 2007 8:01 AM:

" Anytime a church leaves it is a tragedy. This church was a downtown Normal icon for nearly a century. What makes this story doubly sad is the church is closing its door forcing its worshipers to go elsewhere. I assume attendance has been dropping? "

a reader wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:41 AM:

" what a beautiful building... I hope a business can use it "

Chelly wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:41 AM:

" I wondered how much longer they would be around. As the pastor states they are landlocked and with fewer parking spots daily it seems downtown(or accessibility) it makes sense for them. Hopefully whoever buys it will still let the library use part of the lot during the week until parking issues in Uptown have been solved. "

You could get trapped in UT wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:24 AM:

" Great. Now Fell and North street will be blocked off for demolition and construction. "

Vengefull or merciful this week? wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:22 AM:

" I could use it as my home. Hopefully less risk of flood, tornado, lightening, fire. Or maybe more? Wait a minute....... "

Surprising wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:17 AM:

" Surprising, because generally, Churches are one of the few Businesses that continue to prosper during bad economic times. In fact, their revenue often goes up during bad economic times. "

Man Mountain wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:11 AM:

" Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Here is my answer to you "Bye Church". Maybe you would be happy to see a bar in the place of the church. I am sure you would have no problem with that. If someone in your family would die, do you think you buddies at the bar would be there to help you and give you some wisdom that would get you through this difficulty? I know that is not true and so do you. I would like to ask you, have you ever been helped by a church or by a person who was from a church? When someone dies in a family who are the ones to comfort our families and even to provide food for the ones at the funeral? Churches. To cynically say that you are glad to see churches go is truly a foolish statement! "

Attendance? wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:04 AM:

" Other churches, such as First Baptist of Normal, left the downtown area but moved elsewhere. I take it University Christian is closing. Why? Is attendance falling? "

To: bye Church wrote on Aug 22, 2007 6:58 AM:

" that is an awful thing to say! "

reader wrote on Aug 22, 2007 6:55 AM:

" ya, maybe you will like a mosque there instead. "

I know wrote on Aug 22, 2007 2:34 AM:

" lets turn it into a 6000 seat arena no one wants! "

re: Bye Church wrote on Aug 22, 2007 12:58 AM:

" This community is cursed with an ever-growing number of malignant residents. I sure hope you're not my neighbor... "

To: "Bye Church"........ wrote on Aug 22, 2007 12:54 AM:

" Sounds as though you have some very serious issues to deal with. Perhaps you should seek counseling. I know agnostics and have known some satanists and witches in the past and have never heard words such as your words uttered by any of them. At least they know what respect means. I will pray for you. "

YO wrote on Aug 22, 2007 12:49 AM:

" is sad to see a church go. they are places were "BYE Church" should go, i figure he / she has only a small amount of friends and could make so at a church. "

Bye Church wrote on Aug 21, 2007 10:36 PM:

" The more churches we rid ourselves of, the better. "

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