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The Arbors at Athens
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Project Information
Original Use
First Baptist Church of Ardmore
Address
120 E Athens Avenue, Ardmore, PA
Congregation Vacated
2012
Acquired by Main Line reBuild
2014
Adaptive Reuse
4 Residential Condominiums
Parsonage
Sold separately as single-family home
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In 2014, Main Line reBuild acquired the former First Baptist Church of Ardmore, converting the historic building into The Arbors at Athens — four condominium residences on a one-acre lot at 120 E Athens Avenue. The property’s 1953 parsonage was sold separately as a single-family home.
The History Behind The Arbors at Athens
The First Baptist Church of Ardmore served its congregation for decades before the church vacated the property in 2012. Like many historic religious buildings of its era, the church faced the challenge common to structures that had outlived their original congregation’s needs — a well-built, architecturally significant building without a continued use. Main Line reBuild acquired the property in 2014 for conversion into residential use.
Adaptive Reuse Strategy
The conversion followed Lower Merion Township’s ordinance permitting residential conversion of historic churches and club buildings no longer able to sustain their original use. As with Main Line reBuild’s other church conversions, the approach centered on preserving the structural and architectural character of the original building rather than demolishing it — reconfiguring the interior for residential use while maintaining what made the building distinctive.
Renovation Considerations for Historic Church Conversions
Converting a historic church into residential units typically involves evaluating aging building systems while preserving character-defining architectural elements. Resident parking was incorporated into the building’s basement level as part of the conversion, working within the constraints of the existing structure rather than expanding the building’s footprint.
Why Adaptive Reuse Matters
Adaptive reuse allows architecturally significant buildings to remain active parts of the community rather than being demolished. For a property like the First Baptist Church of Ardmore, conversion preserved a building with real architectural character while creating four residences in a Main Line community where new residential development is often constrained by available land.
Project Overview
The Arbors at Athens is one of several church conversions completed by Main Line reBuild across the region, including similar projects in Narberth and Gladwyne. The property is located in Ardmore, one of the Main Line’s established residential communities.
