Presbyterians would donate church to Falls City

FALLS CITY – The Falls City City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. today on an agenda that includes a donation offer of the Presbyterian Church building on Harlan Street.
Board member John Martin, who is the brother of current pastor Richard Martin, said the church’s plans have not been officially announced.

Photo: church Facebook post
The First Presbyterian Church at 20th and Harlan streets is offering to donate the building to Falls City for city uses, as well as a Steinway-designed Boston grand piano.
In a Feb. 3 letter to the city, the church says a ramp and chair lift makes every corner “of the center” accessible and shows a commitment to inclusivity to the arts. The space has been used to host the Buchanan Highlanders Bagpipe concert prior to the Cobblestone Parade.
The lower level has a stage, restrooms, kitchen and a large room seating 80 to 90 people. The main sanctuary has seating for over 300.
Church letter: “We believe the spaces in the building provide the city with wonderful opportunities for the performing arts, conferences and many other uses, all of which will expand Falls City’s reputation as the City of Art.”
A church Facebook post says the congregation is celebrating 158 years, after being organized in 1866.
The church website says “we are looking forward to the next 100 years or so as servants of Christ in this community.” Martin expects more on the church’s future at Falls City to be released later.
Also at tonight’s 6 p.m. meeting, EDGE will give its quarterly report and the city will consider a commitment letter for the 2025 grant cycle for a Falls City Amphitheater Park in collaboration with the Falls City Creative District.
The EDGE report says the organization announced the $5 billion Citroniq Bio-Polypropylene manufacturing project in November and partnered with Falls City to submit planning documents for use of $15 million the state Legislature allocated to Falls City for an electrical transmission line.
The report says Lincoln Premium Poultry is interested in locating a chicken processing plant in Nebraska City and is researching if there is interest from surrounding counties to support the operation with 400 grow barns.
The commitment letter to the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund for the amphitheater park says the $1.2 million park is vital to the community’s cultural and economic development as a cornerstone of downtown revitalization. The site has acquired the site and would use $65,000 as an “in-kind” donation, as well as an allocation of $163,000 for the project.