Ruins Garden Plan for Gary's City Methodist Church Moving Forward

Neglected Indiana church once an engine for change - Charles Leroux (Chicago Tribune, February 27)

Finally there is news of the plan to stabilize the sanctuary of the City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana for use as a ruins garden. According to the article, the plans -- first discussed in 2005 by Gary City Planner David Wright -- are moving ahead. Unfortunately, the plans still include demolition of the annex building next door, which in my opinion is as architectural refined and interesting as the masive Gothic Revival sanctuary.

Someday, Ecology of Absence plans to publish its research and several visits' worth of photographs. For now, a good introuction can be found here and extensive photographs here on Flickr.

Plans for Church Ruins Gardens Going Nowhere in Gary and St. Louis

Apparently the City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana still stands abandoned. Last summer, the city came up with a plan to demolish an annex and retain the sanctuary as a ruins garden, but that plan has not advanced due to lack of funding.

Meanwhile, the National Memorial Church of God in Christ in Midtown St. Louis also still stands abandoned, although more secure and completely gutted. When will Grand Center, Inc., the owner of the church, make good on their promise to turn that church into a ruins garden? The last time workers were on site was in 2004, when a crew filled the basement with gravel.

The delay in Gary is due in large part because there are no private interests who want to lay claim to City Methodist, either for preservation or clearance. The burden of dedicating the church to a new future falls onto local government, which is grossly underfunded. Chicago preservation groups have no interest in getting involved in Gary, which is separated by both state lines and states of mind.

In St. Louis, though, the Church of God in Christ is owned by a non-profit redevelopment corporation that is pretty good at fundraising, even if it produces lousy urban planning. Here they have a really great idea and the financial health to pursue further fundraising, but oddly have let the plan go dormant.

Converting damaged church sanctuaries into ruins gardens is a great idea that repurposed spaces difficult to convert for profitable uses. The architecture of these two churches in particular inspires contemplation and hope. City Methodist has to be one of the most humane giant buildings I've ever seen, while Church of God in Christ is relatively small and austere. These buildings have each suffered fires and have passed any point at which church life would have returned. While restoration for other uses is feasible, these spaces have gained wonderful second lives as great, if illicit, public spaces. Purposeful conversion to ruins gardens would make their second-hand functions safer for all and socially acknowledged. Hopefully, these projects can be revived.

And Again: Wright House in Gary Burns

One of the two Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Gary, Indiana burned on Monday. As usual, Wright follows Sullivan!

Here's more coverage:

A Daily Dose of Architecture: Charred Wright

The Place Where We Live: Another One Bites the Dust: FLW in Gary, IN Goes up in Flames

When we were last in Gary, we met with the city planner to discuss another building. He was talking of his valiant attempts to work with the impoverished owner of this house on a restoration plan.

Like many such plans in Gary, time and money worked against it, and fire trumped all. Of course, the building's condition before the fire was terrible, unlike the great condition of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. The frame-and-stucco house had suffered major interior damage, including floor collapse, due to water intrusion.

News from Gary, Indiana

City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana faces the threat of demolition. The imposing Gothic church, built in 1925 through the aid of US Steel founder and congregation member Elbart Gary, faces demolition for a parking lot.

We'll keep you updated as this story develops. There is still hope to save the main sanctuary building, and we will be doing all we can to help Gary save the building.