When Randy Primrose and his Magnolia Property Co. bought the 67-year-old Trinity Presbyterian Church in Oak Cliff, the first idea was to tear it down.
Primrose's Magnolia Property Co. has built 16 Dallas apartment projects — mostly small buildings with a few dozen units each.
The vacant church on Zang Boulevard near the popular Bishop Arts District seemed like a good spot for a new rental community. But instead of knocking down the old church and school, Magnolia repurposed the buildings as part of a boutique apartment and hotel development.
"I thought the building had value and it would be a shame to tear it down," Primrose said.
The 1950 church building was originally described as "modern type Spanish architecture." Most of the current complex dates from the early 1960s.
Magnolia built 43 new apartments in a 3-story building on the church parking lot. There's a rooftop deck with killer views of downtown and a posh swimming pool cozied up to the old church.
The church nave is now an event center for weddings and parties. And in the school building behind the sanctuary, there's the 12-room Chijmes Hotel that goes with the tag line, "A haven for those who wander."
The hotel rooms — each with a different design theme from Paris to Bali to Mumbai — go for between $190 and $250 a night.
And Magnolia has rented all the apartments for between $1,200 and $2,350 a month.
"We originally were going to turn the church into apartments, too, but were approached by Andra Maldovan about opening the hotel and event space," Primrose said. "I couldn't be happier about how it's turned out.
"It's been a long journey to get the project to this point."
At the front of the old church looking down Zang Boulevard toward downtown, they've built a big wooden deck that's a gathering place for the hotel and event center.
The building is one of the highest points in the neighborhood.
"They aren't making anymore views like this," said Primrose, who's working on another apartment a block away on Zang. "We are chasing another four or five deals."
