Church fights to stay put, despite Seaside development project

Reverend Sam Gaskins has been the pastor at Christian Memorial Tabernacle Church on Colonel Durham Street in Seaside since the late 1990s.

The chapel was owned by the U.S. Army for the former Fort Ord, until Gaskins says they gave it to him when he was looking for a new location for his church. He’s a 20-year armed forces veteran, himself.

“They said ‘ok. Look around and see what is available,’ and this was better than better,” Gaskins said.

The problem is while Reverend Gaskins says he owns the building, so does the city. And Seaside also owns the land, which in 2016, was agreed to go to KB Bakewell for a mixed-use development plan with houses and retail space, just south of the CSUMB campus. Just a few months ago, Gaskins was given an eviction notice.

“I knew that I had to negotiate with the city,” Gaskins said. Adding “but I never thought that I would be standing here with this problem.”

The city sent us this statement, saying in part, that while they appreciate the work done by the Reverend… “there is no legal basis to allow the Church to remain in a City-owned building.

They say Reverend Gaskins hasn’t paid rent or utilities for the property. Gaskins argues they addressed this with him about ten years ago, requesting one thousand dollars, which he said he was fine with.

“They wanted me to sign a month-to-month lease. That’s crazy. I sign a month-to-month lease
and the next day after I sign it, I’m in the street,” Gaskins said.

He says after that, it went silent. They city’s statement writes that they have offered to rent space out to the church, or allow Gaskins to purchase land on the new Campus Town grounds. Reverend Gaskins says he wants to stay where he is.

“Nothing is a surprise to me until you get the final paperwork of ownership in your hand.”

He says this would hurt their ability to continue delivering meals to the homeless, at the church and on the road.

Demolition is slated for later this summer.

Full statement from the City of Seaside:

“In advance of demolition necessary to remove blighted buildings from the former Fort Ord and build a campus neighborhood bordering CSUMB, City of Seaside representatives met with Reverend Gaskins of the Christian Memorial Tabernacle Church to extend offers of assistance as the church relocates.

The church has been operating in a building vacated by the U.S. Army with the closure of Fort Ord. The building, located at 2699 Colonel Durham Street, is owned by the City of Seaside and is slated for demolition this summer by the Fort Ord Reuse Authority.

While Christian Memorial Tabernacle Church had an informal agreement with the US Army to occupy the building on a temporary basis in 1999, the Church has occupied the building since then without paying rent or utility expenses to the U.S. Army, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, or the City of Seaside. While the City appreciates the good work of Reverend Gaskins and the Church over the course of years, there is no legal basis to allow the Church to remain in a Cityowned building.

In 2014, the City Council entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with KB Bakewell to develop the Campus Town project, an 85 acre project directly south of the California State University – Monterey Bay campus, and will be designed to provide arts, entertainment, retail, recreation and housing opportunities to students, faculty and to the region at large. In 2016 Seaside executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Campus Town project, which is currently undergoing environmental review.

On Wednesday, March 21st, City Attorney Don Freeman provided a 60 day notice to vacate the building, in advance of the demolition the Fort Ord Reuse Authority is about to approve. City Attorney Freeman noted the Church could remove and reuse any fixtures or furnishings in the building. City Manager Malin advised Reverend Gaskins his church is welcome to hold Sunday services at the Oldemeyer Center at the non-profit rate of $30.75 for four hours. City Manager Malin also advised he discussed the opportunity for the Church to buy a parcel of land in the Campus Town project with KB/Bakewell principal Danny Bakewell Sr., and Mr. Bakewell indicated KB/Bakewell would be pleased to discuss incorporating the Church in their project.

The matter is currently in litigation.