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Focus group forms to work on re-purposing of Coitsville Presbyterian Church
By LINDA M. LINONIS
coitsville
Richard Scarsella of Sacred Places Dialogue offered insight during a recent community meeting at Coitsville Presbyterian Church, into the “giant puzzle” of repurposing the now-closed house of worship.
Scarsella, president of William Holmes McGuffey Society, is devoted to history and historic preservation. “The church has been an anchor in the community for 177 years,” he said. “There’s definitely a need for some type of multi-purpose facility.”
He said his role is as a “facilitator,” that is, to guide community groups through the process on how to preserve or reuse religious structures based on historic value, demographics, economics, level of support, fundraising and authentic assessment.
Sacred Places Dialogue is a nationwide grass-roots movement on how to preserve or reinvent sacred sites that have been houses of worship and gathering places for ethnic groups.
Coitsville Presbyterian Church, 91 Coitsville-Hubbard Road, conducted its final service April 14. Coitsville Commission of Eastminster Presbytery will oversee the liquidation of assets.
Scarsella said because the township has no school, library or post office, the property could be “of service to the community.” It could fill a void, he said.
About 35 people attended the two-hour meeting May 25 and a focus group formed. Its task, Scarsella said, will be to determine what community residents see as a need. “There were comments about services for veterans, a GED (General Education Diploma) center, program site for seniors and youth and food pantry,” Scarsella said.
He said the first action should be a marketing survey of township residents to gauge what they “want, need and will support.”
“This is all data driven,” he said, adding the puzzle pieces must fit together to create and sustain a facility.
Phyllis Johnson, a township trustee and church member, said the township newsletter, Coitsville Reader, could be a vehicle for a survey of township residents to gather input on uses for the church.
Scarsella said any such project “comes down to money.”
“There might be a vision, but the focus group will help determine what the community will support,” he said.
He added the focus group also must decide whether to become a nonprofit organization. That organization, he said, would need seed money for program development and would seek business sponsors, donations and apply for grants.
Expenses would be taxes, insurance, utilities and security.
Johnson said the septic system at the church must be replaced with a sanitary sewer. There also are water damage and roof issues that must be addressed.
Johnson said fellow trustees, Greg Haren and Gerald Backo, support the repurposing of the church building. There are no township funds available for that use. “It’s not an option for the township,” Johnson said.
Johnson said about 10 people, representing businesses and the community, signed up for the focus group. She said she wanted to capitalize on the momentum and have another meeting in the next few weeks; a date will be announced.
The trustee credited Scarsella with providing “good ideas” on how to proceed. She acknowledged the process is “daunting” and requires participants “with passion” for the project to sustain it. “I think the next meeting will be key ... to see if people follow through and have the energy,” she said.
Johnson added she was encouraged by the mix of community and business interest in repurposing the church.