This St. Petersburg church wants out of its local historic designation

ST. PETERSBURG — The bell tower, decorative wooden siding and lancet windows earned the 10th Street Church of God, the city’s second-oldest wood-frame church, its local historic designation 22 years ago.

But Pastor Carl Mobley cringes when someone calls his church beautiful. All he sees is the water damage, blown-out windows, termites eating up pews and estimates upwards of $80,000 for a roof replacement.

He can’t afford it. The congregation shrank from 150 to 15 active members during the coronavirus pandemic. They can’t gather in the church because their insurance company dropped them, citing the lack of repairs.

Mobley says his congregation has voted to move on. He says he has a buyer for the property who wants the historic designation out of the way before closing. Two years ago, Mobley filed the first-ever application to “de-designate” the church but was rejected.

And so the monument to Carpenter Gothic architecture, built in 1898 and moved to its current location in 1912 or 1913, stands vacant and deteriorating.

“I wish the storm would’ve just taken everything with it,” said Mobley, 71.

That’s one way to get rid of a local landmark.

“If the building is gone, then the local landmark designation goes with,” said Derek Kilborn, manager of the city’s urban planning and historic preservation division.

The other way is to go through the same process to earn a historic designation, but to get rid of it, the way Mobley tried two years ago. Just as it was proved that the building has architectural significance, the church has to prove it no longer does.

The church could also go through an application process to demolish a historic building, which Kilborn said has been successfully done before. But he said the church never submitted a complete, formal application. Mobley said the city turned down its applications.

Kilborn said the city has not only reminded Mobley and church officials about the application deadlines, but also provided links to grant applications and offered assistance in preparing those applications. He said a potential buyer could use the historic designation to their advantage. A for-profit entity could get an ad valorem tax exemption.

“It’s definitely been the challenge for us,” Kilborn said. “We move that ball, we’re doing the research, we’re providing the information back to the church. But we need them to come along with us if we’re going to be able to get the resources they need.”

Kilborn pointed to Historic Bethel AME Church, the city’s first and oldest predominantly African American church, which is one block north of 10th Street Church of God in Methodist Town. That church, also a designated local landmark, has pursued and received state-issued historic preservation grants. National programs also exist for Black heritage sites and Black churches.

State Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, helped secure some of the funding for Historic Bethel. He said he recalled that Mobley reached out for help but couldn’t recall if the pastor submitted an application. Those grants come with a commitment that the congregation will stay on the property.

“He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place with historic designation standing in the way of him being able to sell and move on,” Rouson said. “With a dwindling membership, it’s been difficult for him.”

Mobley isn’t interested in repairs. Neither is longtime member and current trustee Josephine Smith.

“If people were really interested in the church, it wouldn’t have gotten to the point of where it is,” she said.

Mobley said the church could make a lot more money without the building. He said the church has been under contract for two years, contingent on Mobley helping to get rid of the designation. He would not disclose the identity of the buyer.

“If they’re not going to let it off for the pastor, they’re not going to let it off for anyone,” Mobley said.

Manny Leto, executive director of Preserve the ‘Burg, pledged to work with the 10th Street Church of God two years ago. Leto said his organization helped with a temporary fix on the building but hasn’t had much contact since.

“There didn’t seem to be a lot of interest from some of the parties in working with us,” Leto said. “You’ve got some options on that property.”