Christian Science Church building

Historic building donated to city by Bisnett family

For decades, the historic Christian Science Church building on the corner of Main Street and Byers has sat mostly empty. Now, the Pendleton City Council will consider options for the historic building and a potential adjoining plaza project.

The Christian Science building, 13 SW Byers Ave., was built as a church in 1926. The

Spanish style of the building and its proximity to downtown and to the Umatilla River make it a unique opportunity in the City of Pendleton.

The Christian Science Building and its property appraised for $385,000 in 2020, and, to encourage its development, the Bisnett family donated the building to the City of Pendleton in December 2023.

The Pendleton City Council is looking for information from Pendleton residents before moving forward with the building. Once community feedback is established, the council plans to solicit proposals from developers interested in taking over the Christian Science building and/or creation of the Byers Plaza proposal.  

City Manager Robb Corbett said the City Council is seeking additional information and discussion about the options.

“This building is a hallmark of our downtown. It’s one of the most unique buildings in our community,” he said. “The City Council is wrestling with how best to use this building to benefit the community.”

The City is asking community members how they would like to see the building developed, such as a restaurant, indoor vendor space, or performing arts center. 

In addition to asking community members about what type of developers should be considered for the Christian Science Building, the City is interested in if local residents support the idea of developing a festival street and Riverfront Plaza in the area. This would add artistic elements to a portion of Byers Avenue that could be closed off to host events as well as some sort of plaza between the levy and the river. 

If developed, a plaza would likely cost at least $1.5 million. This funding could come from potential grants or from a taxing levy.

Proposed location:

The Byers Plaza Proposal: 

A public survey is available online at this link.