Earlier this week, a reader gave us the heads up that zoning notices had recently appeared on the front door of 2701 W. Girard Ave., a Gothic church that we first brought to your attention over the summer, when it was still listed for sale. At that time, we told you that the church was constructed in 1888 and features the original pipe organ, and that the church was on the market along with an adjoining two story parish hall which includes a little basement bowling alley.

The church

The price was last at $400K, according to Loopnet, and Colliers indicates that the property has sold, even though this information is not yet reflected in public record. So we can’t tell you who’s buying the thing, nor can we tell you how much they’re paying. But we can tell you this: it seems unlikely that this church will be torn down; instead, the new owners are planning a residential conversion.

Zoomed in on the zoning notice

According to the zoning application, the developers intend to build “a second floor on the interior of the existing” building, for the purpose of creating sixteen residential units. We’re guessing that the church and the parish hall will both be used for apartments, and would imagine that the sixteen units will extend over both buildings. It’s not clear whether the builders will use the existing windows of the buildings, open new windows, or create an internal apartment structure, like The Cloisters in West Philly.

We’re not suggesting that this application would have been appropriate for the Church of the Assumption, which will will probably be torn down in the coming weeks. But we are certainly happy to see that this really attractive old structure will live on, though its congregations have all moved along. Hopefully, this development will likewise spur greater development, both on Girard Ave. and in the surrounding neighborhood.