To: Denver Presbytery Member Churches, Pastors, Sessions
From: Denver Presbytery Council
Re: Presbytery of Denver Real Property Review Program
In January 2022, Denver Presbytery will begin a two-year program to inventory and value all real property (land and buildings) owned by the presbytery and its member churches. This review will provide information that can assist you in determining appropriate insurance coverages and the need, if any, for a formal appraisal. The information can also help your church when considering property options, including potential sale or lease of portions of your property. For the presbytery, it will provide better knowledge of all the real property assets under the domain of the presbytery.
We anticipate this review program will be completed in two years by the real estate firm currently representing the presbytery, Shames Makovsky. The firm will utilize publicly available property records (such as zoning and any unique property restrictions) and will provide a realtor estimate of value based on viewing the property and considering comparable values from real estate sales of similar property. The realtor conducting the survey will not physically enter church buildings unless requested by you. You will be notified a few weeks in advance when and if the realtor will be visiting your church’s property.
Please note that a realtor estimate does not meet the standards of a property appraisal. If a member church wants to obtain a more in-depth review of its property, it can make separate arrangements with this real estate firm, or a firm of your choice. Churches that have recently completed a review and valuation of their property (due to construction, PILP loan, or for any other purpose) may provide the information to the presbytery in lieu of participation in the program.
Shames Makovsky has offered to complete the property review program over a two-year period. The firm has already provided property reviews and valuations for some member churches, and these have been very helpful. There will not be a cost to you or the presbytery for the review program. Denver Presbyter will cover the firm’s mileage reimbursement for visiting churches located outside of the Denver metro area.
Any questions you may have about the property review program should be forwarded to the moderator of Denver Presbytery’s Finance & Property Workgroup, Pat Queen at 303-997-4471 or pat_queen@comcast.net.