COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

First Baptist Church of Columbus began work on its new, larger location on Bluecutt Road in 2009; their old location had been on the market for nearly that long, and is now under contract. It is hoped that the deal can be finalized early next year. The original structure has stood for nearly two hundred years. The complex, which takes up most of a city block, was originally listed for nearly $5 million, but the most recent asking price was shown as $450,000.

“It just went under contract today, so we’re still getting all our ducks in a row,” Joshua Holder, the buyer’s Realtor, said Monday. “The plans are for a multi-functional property that will include single-family housing, office and commercial space. We may keep the day care center open and use the sanctuary as a wedding venue. But at this point, we’re not too far into specifics. It’s such a large property. We’ll be talking to local contractors to come up with ideas about how we can best use the property.”

Among possibilities for the old property, a planned zoning change to Mixed-Use Residential permitting, are things such as single-family dwellings, small-scale office space, and a small number of high-end apartments. 

The church will have the option to lease out the Sanctuary for events: “That gives the church some flexibility as they transition to the new facilities on Bluecutt,” Royce Hudspeth of Rhett Real Estate said, representing the seller. “We know it’s going to be sad for some of our members to make the move, but everyone understands it is for the best.”

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2021-11-02/downtown-first-baptist-property-under-contract/