University City Church Buys Tucson Historic Landmark

University City Church, a relatively new church,  purchased the historic 34,163-square-foot church at 604 N. 6th Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, from Crosslife Ministries for $1,900,000 ($56 PSF). The buyer had occupied the church for one- year prior to purchase and exercised a lease option negotiated when it leased. The historic building cornerstone was laid in 1925 and the property was reportedly well-maintained at time of sale for the vintage.

University City Church has four pastors: Andy Tracey, Mark Wellman, Matt Uldrich and Sylar Cook.

About two years ago it was suggested to Pastor Andy that he consider planting a church at the old First Baptist Church on 6th Ave. that had recently come on the market for sale.

“I did not think much of it at the time, as I was not convinced that I was a church planter and was very comfortable leading the college/career ministry at Catalina Foothills Church,” siad Pastor Andy Tracey. “Four months ago, when I was at a conference in Atlanta, I had an experience through which I felt that God might be asking me to plant a church at this specific location. When I returned home from the conference there was a message waiting for me from someone  who attends our church. He let me know that this church building was for sale and asked if I had considered planting a church there. Since then it has been suggested by two other people, at random, that I consider a church plant near the University and it seems God may be opening this door and providing much of what it would take to make this church plant a reality. ”

“To help confirm what I thought God might be stirring in us, I asked a close friend, mentor, and pastor, Mark Wellman, to join us as we went to look at the church. We wanted the wisdom from someone trusted, and because of our years of experience together, Mark was an obvious choice,” said Pastor Andy Tracey.

University Church has been in the news quite a bit lately, first for a fire that took place in the church back in November, 2013 and had to relocate to a temporary location at 1900 N Country Club Rd in Tucson.  The Church also blocked a medical marijuana dispensary planned within 1,000 feet of the historic church, when the city had failed to enforce its own ordinance restricting where nuisance properties can locate.

The Church has grown to about 400 parishoners over the past year.

Rob Tomlinson, Retail Specialist and Paul Hooker, Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, co-represented the seller in this transaction. Buyer was self-represented.

For more information, contact Tomlinson at (520) 546-2757 or Hooker at (520) 546-2704.