The buyers asked the Tacoma School District for an extension on finalizing the $1.6 million sale, but the answer was “no,” support services director Sam Bell said Thursday.

A ruling on the application for a conditional use permit to convert the 46,000-square-foot building from school to church use likely won’t be made until the end of January, said Lisa Spadoni, a senior land use administration planner for the city.

The application, made by the Abby Road Group on behalf of The Crossing Church, says the church would use the building for a number of religious activities, including worship services, educational programs, meeting space, counseling, weddings, funerals, a discipleship program and financial support groups.

The proposed sale sparked controversy on the city’s East Side, where neighbors complained that the church’s outreach programs would bring more social services to an area already saturated with them.

A mission statement posted on the church’s Web site reads: “The Crossing Church is a bridge to the poor in spirit offering life transformation; restoring us to God’s intended relationship with Him.”

In addition to worship activities, the church runs a street ministry and a program promising “freedom based restoration from all addictions.”

Neighbors say they’d prefer another use for the closed school at 1301 E. 34th St. They have persistently voiced their concerns in community meetings and comments to the city.

“We’ve tried to listen with an open mind,” said neighbor Bill Mattox, who will join the Eastside Neighborhoods Advisory Council in January. Mattox attended many community meetings with Crossing officials. He is among some 200 area residents who signed a petition declaring they think there’s a better use for the building, which sits on 3.67 acres along a quiet residential street.

Neither pastor Jon Graciano nor Greg Helle, who is listed at the purchaser, could be reached for comment Thursday afternoon. Roberta Marta of the Abby Road Group, said she would pass along questions from The News Tribune. By Thursday evening, neither of the men had responded.

Mattox questioned Tacoma School Board members a few weeks ago about the sale and condition of the building. He complained that perhaps the school district was selling it too cheaply and had allowed it to deteriorate.

Bell said Thursday the $1.6 million sale price falls within the legally allowed 75 percent of the appraised value. By that calculation, the minimum selling price would be $1,533,750. Ockfen & Montro of Tacoma valued the property at just over $2 million in November 2006, Bell said.

The church originally agreed to buy the property for $2.2 million in 2005, then withdrew its offer, Bell said. At that time, the building was appraised at $2.3 million. As the former school stood on the market longer, its value went down and its condition changed, Bell said.

Since the building was closed as a school in June 2003, the district spent about $28,000 on maintenance and repairs, he added. But that wouldn’t match the kind of upkeep the building would have seen if kids were present.

Mattox said he and other neighbors still believe the school district could have found a more suitable match for the neighborhood. Residents are steamed, he says, that they weren’t brought into discussions about what was to become of the property as it sat on the market.

“If they’re going to be putting these places up for sale, they need to get the community involved,” he said. “We didn’t find out until after the fact. I hope they’ll start considering transparency, instead of doing things behind closed doors.”

Kris Sherman: 253-597-8659

kris.sherman@thenewstribune.com