by Sandy » Sat Jul 13, 2013 7:35 am
The building that Lifeway owns, and leases out, is the oldest of the three complexes they've constructed on the city block they own between Church St. and Broadway, and between 9th and 10th Avenues in downtown Nashville. The "downsizing" they've done is related to switching from direct provision of all of their own services to contracting for things like travel, attorney services, bookkeeping, the church envelope service, and the printer, all of which were once housed in the old BSSB office and warehouse that was located on the corner of Church and 9th. The office and warehouse complex that is now known as One Lifeway Plaza, is between 10th Ave. and the railroad tracks, and runs the length of the whole block from Church to Broadway. It houses the publishing divisions, the bookstore divison, technology services, and the literature publishing and shipping enterprise. When that was built, the old office and warehouse complex, constructed in the 1950's at 127 Ninth Ave. North, was renovated to house the conference center and church services divisions. The printer, the envelope service, the travel agency, the lawyers, the business office, the catalog, phone and internet sales, all moved in there. That left the oldest set of warehouses and office space, on Church St. between Tenth and Ninth, vacant. It is right across the street from the State of Tennessee's office and parking complex. Rental property in downtown Nashville is an excellent investment, so Lifeway renovated the property and the State has been a tenant in one of the office buildings, Thomas Nelson in the other. The printer, envelope service, and travel are now contracted out, so that space may also be available.
Given their revenue report to the SBC at the last convention, "downsize" isn't an appropriate term.