“More Focused on Ministry Than Upkeep”: El Paso’s First Christian Church Sells Its Downtown Building

• First Christian Church sold its long-time building at 901 Arizona Avenue in central El Paso in late May 2023.
• The buyer was Spaghetti Bowl Properties; the price was not disclosed.
• The interim pastor said the building was a huge expense and not the right size for the congregation.
• Three tenants, a vegan diner, a community garden and a breastfeeding support group, had to look for new homes.

A central El Paso church has sold its building so it can spend less on upkeep, leaving its tenants searching for space. KVIA reported that First Christian Church sold its property at 901 Arizona Avenue.

The church had owned the property for decades. It was sold in late May 2023 to Spaghetti Bowl Properties; the price was not disclosed. The interim pastor, Dave McVey, said: “We want to be more focused on ministry than upkeep of the building.” He added: “It’s a huge, huge expense and the church felt it wasn’t the right size.”

The sale affected three tenants: One Grub Community Diner, a vegan restaurant; Planty for the People, a nonprofit garden; and El Jardín Birth and Family Resource Center, a breastfeeding support group. Jonathan Pierre Hernandez, agent for the new owner, said: “We’d love to have One Grub there if they choose.” Libby Berkeley, director of El Jardín, said: “If we don’t have a place, I’m pretty sure this is it for us and this is really sad for El Paso.” Adriana Wilcox, co-founder of One Grub, said: “We are here to make sure people have access to good food.”

The sale shows how a church building can support community groups as well as worship, and how those groups are affected when it changes hands.

Many churches rent space to community groups and small businesses, and those tenants can depend on low rents that a new owner may not offer. Jamaican churches that let out halls or rooms should think about their tenants when planning a sale: giving early notice, helping them find new space or making continued tenancy part of the deal. Buyers of church buildings with tenants should check existing agreements and decide early which tenants they want to keep. For a congregation, moving to a smaller space can free money for ministry, as First Christian hoped.

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