VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 6/1/15)—588 Associates, LLC, announces the issuance of a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the potential purchase and/or redevelopment of the American Baptist Churches Mission Center property located at 588 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
The issuance of the RFEI begins a disposition process that likely will include a sale of property, although no determinations have yet been made, and 588 Associates remains open to any number of possibilities or offers that might be presented.
The RFEI is the first of a two-step process for choosing a developer for the Mission Center property. In the second step, respondents to the RFEI will be invited to submit Request for Proposals (RFP) outlining development plans for the property in detail.
588 Associates with its Washington, D.C.-based consultant CSG Urban Partners will work together throughout the process in order to determine the best path forward for continuing and enhancing ABC’s mission locally, nationally and internationally while positively impacting the financial well-being of the partners. It is important to ABC partners that redevelopment of the property will make a positive contribution to the local community.
588 Associates, LLC, through 588 Associates Real Estate Council, is committed to being transparent and open as it surveys the forthcoming real estate opportunities and will convey any major decisions regarding the property disposition as appropriate.
The decision to explore other location options for the American Baptist Churches Mission Center is the result of changing staffing patterns during the last few decades coupled with the goal of focusing on good stewardship that will enable staff to do mission and ministry more effectively moving into the future.
The 588 Associates Real Estate Council is made up of representatives of 588 Associates, LLC (ABCUSA/Board of General Ministries, American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist International Ministries and MMBB Financial Services), who share ownership of the Mission Center property, together with representatives from American Baptist Extension Corporation, American Baptist Computer Center, American Baptist Women’s Ministries, American Baptist Ministers Council, and the American Baptist Foundation. CSG Urban Partners is consulting with the Council for the duration of the project.
Background: In 1962, American Baptist Churches (ABC) acquired approximately 48.5 acres of land and built two large buildings in the current location. For over 53 years, ABC has operated as a good neighbor per its mission and on behalf of its members, employees and community, in the same Upper Merion Township location. The original architecture and physical layout of the grounds originally provided a collaborative environment for the over 700 employees that worked at this site each day. Over the ensuing years, ABC’s space utilization needs have changed significantly; more remote staffing has resulted in less than 150 executive, administrative and support staff employees in these same offices.
The 588 Associates Real Estate Council originally launched a study in October 2013 to deliver a recommendation regarding the future location of the American Baptist Mission Center and disposition of the King of Prussia property.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.