Phoenix church may be redeveloped for apartments, though some call for preservation
Merry Hill Church near Seventh Avenue and Fillmore Street is under contract to be sold to a developer with plans to raze the building and construct 122 apartments. The sale will help fund a new building on nearby land that the church already owns. Community members are hoping the developer will preserve aspects of the existing building, but it’s in disrepair and isn’t deemed historic, so it’s not eligible for city funds. The developer has been working with the church and community for two years and has addressed concerns about neighborhood character with flourishes like brick arches and a Spanish mission design.