Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) in Pacific Beach announced on Dec. 14 the sale of Luther View Apartments, a 48-unit affordable senior housing complex that the church built in 1979. The property was sold to Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF), a nonprofit, faith-based property housing provider headquartered in Long Beach with almost 200 housing communities and more than 55 years of experience.
“RHF is pleased and honored that the Leadership of Christ Lutheran Church has selected us to continue this important affordable housing mission,” said the president of RHF, the Rev. Laverne R. Joseph, D.D.
The sale was led by Christ Lutheran Church pastor David Nagler and selected Christ Lutheran Church members. Robert Vallera and Matthew Kennedy of Voit Real Estate Services in San Diego navigated the sale. Though the property could have been sold at a far higher price as market-rate, for-profit apartments, Christ Lutheran Church mandated that the buyer honor and commit to the mission of low-income housing for a minimum of 30 years. RHF agreed to this land use restriction agreement and intends to extend it for longer than 30 years. The property was sold for $10.1 million and the church will provide long-term seller financing to RHF.
The property was sold at this time for two reasons: It became clear to the leaders of the congregation, with limited staff and resources, that a housing provider would best be able to retain CLC’s commitment to providing the best possible service to the seniors living in Luther View. Additionally, the leaders of CLC recognize the changing role of the church and a need to reestablish it as a place for hope and healing. CLC sought partners to carry elements of their previous work into the future in order to focus time and energy on helping people learn and grow spiritually.
“We are deeply grateful for the leaders who envisioned and established Luther View apartments in 1979 and are thrilled to hand over the mission of care of Luther View to RHF, though the residents of Luther View will always be part of our family,” said Nagler. “We are looking forward now to strengthening the core mission of Christ Lutheran Church: to share God’s unconditional love. We are excited to reinvigorate our commitment to the spiritual, mental, and emotional healing and learning for our Pacific Beach neighbors, and to inspire generosity in the San Diego community and beyond,” he said.
Christ Lutheran Church is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and some of the proceeds of the sale of Luther View will go toward capital improvements. Additional proceeds are being delegated toward two major programming/outreach pillars: Benevolence and Learning. Here, the intention is to provide multiple avenues for regularly engaging in spiritual practices including being a place for worship, yoga, meditation, 12-step programs, classes, and events welcoming diverse artists and speakers.
For more information about Christ Lutheran Church, please go to christpb.org.
About Christ Lutheran Church
Christ Lutheran Church, at 4761 Cass St., was established in 1947. Church service is every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and childcare during services is available on site for free. Located two blocks from the Pacific Ocean, the slogan of Christ Lutheran Church is, “Saints, Sinners and Surfers.” A prominent feature of the church’s sanctuary is a 20-foot-tall mosaic depiction of nature on the wall facing the congregation and spilling into a river on the aisle floor that leads to the front doors of the sanctuary.
