1901 Church

THE MISSION OF 1901 CHURCH, INC. (DBA THE STEEPLES PROJECT) IS TO TRANSFORM HISTORIC, FORMER ETHNIC CHURCH BUILDINGS INTO DYNAMIC VENUES WITHIN THE CAMBRIA CITY CULTURAL DISTRICT OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

THE GRAND HALLE RENEWAL PROJECT WAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY AND ON SCHEDULE, RESTORING THE ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL AND BEAUTY OF THIS VICTORIAN GOTHIC REVIVAL SPACE THAT FORMERLY HAD BEEN A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. NOW THE FULLY RENEWED HALLE SERVES THE COMMUNITY AS A CONCERT HALL AND SPECIAL-EVENTS RENTAL VENUE. FOLLOWING A 330,000 ROOF REPAIR PROJECT IN THE 4TH QUARTER OF 2019, A GENERAL CONTRACTOR EXECUTED A 170,000 INTERIOR RENEWAL PROJECT DURING THE 1ST QUARTER OF 2020 - RESTORING MOISTURE-CORRUPTED DECORATIVE MOLDINGS AND COMPLETELY REPAINTING THE MAIN HALL. ALSO, A WEAK, 12- BY 25-FOOT STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE NORTH TRANSEPT WAS REINFORCED. FUNDING FOR THE GRAND HALLE RENEWAL PROJECT WAS PROVIDED BY A KEYSTONE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONSTRUCTION GRANT, AND GRANTS FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR, THE 1889 FOUNDATION, THE MCKENNA FOUNDATION AND THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE ALLEGHENIES.

SCHEMATIC DESIGN AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT WERE COMPLETED ON THE ADAPTIVE- REUSE PROJECT FOR 1901 CHURCH, INC.'S OTHER FORMER CHURCH BUILDING. THE VISION IS TO SENSITIVELY TURN THIS HISTORICAL SPACE INTO A PROFESSIONAL- QUALITY THEATRE FOR DRAMATIC ARTS, A VENUE CURRENTLY LACKING IN JOHNSTOWN. A DESIGN TEAM INCLUDING AN ARCHITECT SPECIALIZING IN ADAPTIVE-REUSES FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, A THEATRE-DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING FIRM AND AN ACOUSTICAL CONSULTANT SPECIALIZING IN PERFORMING ARTS SPACES PERFORMED BOTH DESIGN PHASES. DESIGN IS BEING DONE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR'S STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE WILL PRODUCE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND WILL MAKE THE FIRST PHASE OF THE COLUMBA THEATRE DESIGN PROJECT SHOVEL-READY. DESIGN ACTIVITIES TO DATE HAVE COST 152,000 WITH FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, A KEYSTONE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANNING GRANT, THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE 1889 FOUNDATION AND THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE ALLEGHENIES.

1901 CHURCH, INC. ACQUIRED THE FORMER RECTORY AND A RELATED FOUR-BAY GARAGE, ADJACENT TO ITS FORMER COLUMBA CHURCH BUILDING, AS A DONATION FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. AS A CONDITION OF THE DONATION, 1901 CHURCH SATISFIED BACK TAXES AND CONNECTED THE HOUSE TO THE CITY OF JOHNSTOWN'S NEW SEWER SYSTEM. THE NEWLY ACQUIRED PROPERTY IS PROVIDING CORPORATE OFFICE SPACE FOR 1901 CHURCH AND IS BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN FOR THE COLUMBA THEATRE PROJECT. THE GARAGE WILL PROVIDE BADLY NEEDED STORAGE SPACE. THE DONATION ARRANGEMENT AND RELATED GARAGE PURCHASE ENABLED 1901 CHURCH TO ACQUIRE THIS 13-ROOM VICTORIAN (CA. 1889) AND FOUR-BAY GARAGE FOR 41,000, FINANCED THROUGH A LOAN FROM A LOCAL BANK. THE TRANSACTION PROVIDED SUFFICIENT COLLATERAL TO ENABLE 1901 CHURCH TO ALSO FINANCE THE DEMOLITION OF A BLIGHTED BUILDING OWNED BY THE CORPORATION IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY AND GET OUT OF A BURDENSOME LEASE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY UPON WHICH THE BLIGHTED STRUCTURE SAT. THE MONTHLY DEBT SERVICE ON THE BANK LOAN IS LESS THAN THE MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENTS THAT WERE BEING MADE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.