Old Rock Church drama persists: Nonprofit backs out of discussions to acquire Providence landmark

The nonprofit Pioneer Heritage Corporation will not go through with raising the $1.8 million necessary to acquire the Old Rock Church and turn it into a community center, citing a lack of interest from the community.

Dale Astle, the chairman of the corporation and a Providence City Council member, said the building will remain in its current form as the Providence Inn Bed and Breakfast, as well as a venue for weddings and special events.

Weve cut that discussion off, as the board voted not to continue that, Astle said. Weve evaluated the results of community surveys, and then theres the issue of what would we do with the building after we acquired it. Theres just not a lot of interest on the part of the community, especially to turn it into an office building.

Last fall, with the help of the Logan-based Cache Landmark construction company, the Heritage Corporation floated color artists renderings of what the new Old Rock Church could look like as a future headquarters for city government offices, a multi-purpose community gathering place, a cultural heritage center, and a community gardens and park. The hope was that such a makeover would revitalize the historic downtown area of Providence.

In October, Astle and the Heritage Corporation hosted an open house event at the building to gauge community interest in the proposed project. After the event, Astle said he was very disappointed in the events response.

Then the group asked a Utah State University political science class to conduct a survey of 1,000 registered voters in Providence. Potential for the project might have seemed positive on the surface, as it showed that two-thirds of survey participants supported turning the building into a community center.

However, only 10 percent of those surveyed were willing to put dollars toward it, said Astle. Also, only about 45 percent said theyd be willing to put time or dollars toward it. Most of all, 90 percent of respondents did not support a tax increase to help pay for the project.

Astle said he feels very comfortable about the decision not to move forward with the Old Rock Church project. The cost for the project, in addition to the acquisition, would have been an estimated $4.3 million, according to Astle.

I think the very best use for that church is to get it to be an ongoing successful business and for (Karl Seethaler, the owner) to continue what hes doing there. I dont see that it would work as a city center; it would be too expensive.

An ad-hoc group of Providence residents, called Friends of the Old Rock Church, will help Seethaler with better marketing of the bed and breakfast and reception center, Astle said.

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Old Rock Church drama persists: Nonprofit backs out of discussions to acquire Providence landmark