A Lyon Village church is entering a new phase of visioning for its future after halting plans to redevelop as an affordable housing project last year.
Clarendon Presbyterian Church, which backed away from ambitions to tear down and rebuild as a 102-unit housing project amid financial and logistical difficulties in spring 2025, now plans to put out an all-call for offers regarding its property at 1305 N. Jackson Street.
The church hasn’t released any details on how, specifically, it intends to proceed after that. It’s seeking to gauge interest to see what might be feasible, Carlin Beekman, a spokesperson for the commercial real estate services company Foundry Commercial, told ARLnow.
“It seems that they’re open to all options, and want to see all options on the table, and then be able to go from there,” Beekman said. She stressed that the church is not closing and “the mission of the church will continue no matter what.”
A press release says that Clarendon Presbyterian has “a focus on identifying opportunities that align with its vision for the future and its longstanding commitment to the community.”
“As we consider what the future may hold for our property, we remain grounded in the values that have always guided our congregation: welcoming all people, caring for our neighbors, and finding meaningful ways to serve our community,” Pastor Alice Tewell wrote. “We approach this next chapter with open hearts and a sense of hope for the possibilities ahead.”
Tewell referred a request for further comment to Foundry Commercial.
Clarendon Presbyterian spent several years assessing its ability to follow other houses of worship — such as Arlington Presbyterian Church in Alcova Heights and Central United Methodist Church in Ballston — which successfully redeveloped as affordable housing projects in collaboration with the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (now True Ground Housing Partners).
The church had originally sought to demolish the existing structure to construct a six-story building with a focus on housing for LGBTQ+ seniors — with representatives warning that mounting expenses could ultimately force the congregation to relocate if it didn’t redevelop. However, it faced a series of obstacles involving the need to rezone, which was opposed by neighbors who argued that the structure would be too large for the neighborhood.
Clarendon Presbyterian ultimately hit the brakes on its redevelopment plan in March 2025. Although changes in the state legislature this year made it somewhat easier for churches to pursue affordable housing projects, the church’s original proposal for the property has yet to make a comeback.
Beekman said that Clarendon Presbyterian plans to release marketing materials for the property in the coming weeks as it seeks to “thoughtfully steward its resources and support the congregation’s long-term mission.”
“They’re open to a variety of options, and that’s part of what will be [clarified more] in future releases and in the marketing materials,” Beekman said.
