Issaquah Settles City Church Suit Over Providence Heights Site

ISSAQUAH, WA - Issaquah and King County have settled a lawsuit brought by The City Church over demolition of buildings at the former Providence Heights Bible college. The City Church, now known as Churchome, sued the governments in October over the designation of Providence Heights as a city landmark.

Over the summer, Issaquah revoked The City Church's demolition permit, a move that was upheld in September by an Issaquah hearing examiner.

Issaquah is not paying damages to The City Church, based in Kirkland, but it will reinstate that demolition permit. That means The City Church will be allowed to move forward with plans to demolish buildings on the site and sell the land. The church plans to use that money to buy new buildings to open other City Church locations.

"According to the judge’s conclusions of law, the SEPA and landmark decisions each burdened the church’s free exercise of religion. Churchome plans to use the proceeds from the property to acquire church buildings to accommodate its growing congregation in other cities, according to court documents," a city press release reported.

The demolition permit requires contractors to preserve the stained glass windows at the site. Providence Heights was built in the 1960s as a Bible college for nuns.

Image via Google Maps