KCRag Forum

Fire damaged the First Church of Christ Scientist at 9th and Forest late Sunday night. It was dedicated in 1898.

It was most recently the Rock of Our Salvation church, but has been vacant recently.

http://www.kctv5.com/story/38916646/fla ... f-collapse

Some history.

http://kchistory.org/content/first-chur ... cientist-0

http://kchistory.org/content/first-chur ... cientist-1

Location:

https://tinyurl.com/y894rfcw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXx6MbumAhM

The Star put out a video showing the aftermath. Seems to have survived better than I expected. Really hoping they don't tear it down....

Who is going to save it? I always hoped the neighborhood might be redeveloped with housing again, and that a new purpose would then be found for the structure.

I worry that transients will eventually cause a fire that will destroy it completely. The neighborhood is home to several social service agencies for homeless. Because of the building's location in an industrial area, there aren't a lot of eyes around there to notice transients coming and going, or that they have breached the building. Since it's vacant, no one notices if this happens. There aren't really people living next door to notice activity.

The number of transients has noticeably increased in the Old Northeast, and many are camping along the bluffs and in parks. Some say it's because Salvation Army shut down their homeless shelter in St. Joseph, so they are showing up here. We had pretty intense storms Sunday, so it makes me wonder if transients broke into the church to get out of the heavy rain. I guess we will have to wait and see if officials can determine the source/cause of the fire.

The vacant, former St. Francis Seraph Catholic Church, near Agnes and Nicholson Avenues, in the East Bottoms caught on fire August 9; and some suggested transients caused that fire. They caused three fires in the former hotel off Front Street near I-435--the one that was demolished recently.

What's the status of this place? Sitting as a ruin? Getting demoed? Haven't had a chance to go past it lately

Today's photo update:

I'm shocked it's standing

This church is currently being demolished.

That's sad. I was hoping that, since it had stayed up for so long after the fire, that they were going to just leave it.

Has there been any word from Historic KC or anyone in defense of this church? Seems like this should be a pretty high profile thing as far as preservation goes.

I could still see it today.