Portland church gets $1million challenge gift

By RICHARD KOE
PORTLAND

First Presbyterian Church has received an anonymous challenge gift of $1 million from a church family as the first gift toward fulfillment of a long-held vision for the historic churchs present and future ministrydemolition of the adjacent three-story Danmoore Hotel and construction of an underground parking facility.

Dudley Weaver, senior pastor of the church at 1200 S.W. Alder, said the generous gift gets the congregation off to a great start in what will be a three- to four-year, multi-million dollar effort among church members and friends for the first phase in a multi-phased building program. Related projects include renovation of the chapel and Great Hall, and a new extension of the parish house.

The projects have actually been in process for more than a decade, Weaver explained. „Ever since First Presbyterian became owner of the hotel, facing S.W. Morrison Street on the south half of the church block, considerable thought and conversation has been given the most appropriate use of the space. After much study of different alternatives, the church determined that the renovation costs of the hotel would be prohibitive.‰

Before First Presbyterian could or would consider demolition of the hotel, provision needed to be made for replacement of affordable housing units that would be lost by elimination of the Danmoore. The Alder House, located at S.W. 13th & Alder, is the churchs answer to the housing need. Conversations continue with other church-related entities about additional affordable housing in the neighborhood.

Two committees have been appointed by the church session to make the vision of the multi-phased building program a reality. One is working on all the details of the Danmoore demolition and the three-tier underground parking garage with a landscaped open plaza above. The other is interviewing prospective capital campaign consultants for the campaign.