April 6, 2011

As a rare treat, this week’s featured property is the historic Eastminster Presbyterian Church located in the heart of the Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood at 217 Benton Blvd., directly across from Concourse Park.

In 1907 when both Benton and Gladstone boulevards were home to some of Kansas City’s elite families, the area Presbytery established a congregation at the corner of Benton Boulevard and Anderson Avenue with 114 charter members. The commissioned structure, according to Northeast historian Brad Finch, was designed by noted Kansas City architect L. Grant Middaugh and built by George W. Nelson. It is constructed entirely of native and Carthage limestone and features roughly 16,000 square feet of usable space on three floors. With all its furnishings, it cost $40,000 to complete in 1907.

More than 100 years later, the building is still a stately reminder of heady days in the Historic Northeast community. The bottom of the three floors is mostly dedicated to the large fellowship hall and a full kitchen that has seen many a potluck dinner served within its walls. There’s also a small worship area on the bottom floor complete with pews, a stage and an altar.

The main level, with its entrance off Benton Boulevard, is home to the cavernous sanctuary that seats up to 400 parishoners in the stately oak pews on the main floor as well as in the loft area. An overflow area to the rear seats an additional 300 or so, bringing the total sanctuary capacity to just over 700 people. The original beamed, barrel-vaulted ceiling stands atop massive pilasters with ornamented capitals. Stained and leaded glass windows flood the sanctuary with natural light, and the Jenkins Music installed pipe organ is a prominent feature that has the strength to rattle glass a block away during the right hymns. The loft area features two large glass-pane doors that open to the sanctuary, offering a stunning view of the altar and pipe organ below.

The building has been partially updated with new, high-efficiency gas furnaces and a new roof. The structure is also a contributing property in the Scarritt Point South National and local register Historic District, which would make it eligible for Historic Tax Credits for rehabilitation.

Reduced to $150,000 and listed by Don Nickell of Victor Ross & Company, the Eastminster Presbyterian Church has an historic pedigree in a prominent boulevard location that would serve any new congregation extremely well. Call him at the Victor Ross Real Estate office at (816) 483-0500.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to Eastminster Trustee David Joslyn for providing access to the facility and local photographer David Remley.

– Michael Bushnell