LifeWay moves forward with possible property sale

NASHVILLE (BP)—Based on the positive results of a feasibility study, LifeWay Christian Resources is moving forward with the possible sale of its Nashville headquarters property.

Thom RainerFive months ago, LifeWay announced a preliminary study of the feasibility of selling the ministry’s 14.5-acre campus in downtown Nashville that would allow the organization to relocate.

“The results of the study confirmed there was interest favorable enough for us to take another step,” LifeWay President Thom Rainer said.

LifeWay has talked with local, regional and national organizations about selling the property and accepted offers through mid-January.

LifeWay’s campus includes nine buildings, with more than 1 million square feet of office, warehouse and parking space.

Reasons to sell

Rainer said reasons to consider selling the property include:

• Changes over the last 50 years in how LifeWay does ministry have created a need for workspaces that support LifeWay’s technologies, strategies and culture now and in the future.

• LifeWay uses only one-third of its current space.

• The opportunity to build a new facility designed specifically for the ministries LifeWay provides now and in the future.

“Most of our current space was designed and built in the middle of the last century and for a much different work environment,” Rainer said. “We need a workplace designed to support the technologies, collaboration and culture needed for today’s and tomorrow’s successful national and international ministry.”

Hope to stay in downtown Nashville

If the property does sell, Rainer said, his “very strong preference is for the ministry to stay in downtown Nashville.” LifeWay is looking at several pieces of property in the downtown area as potential sites to construct a new building.

Rainer said planners estimate construction of a new building would take at least two years.