Former Cincinnati Church Will Be Auctioned

The historic church site in the Evanston neighborhood will head to auction in late October with a $150,000 starting bid.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Commercial

Former Cincinnati Church Will Be Auctioned

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The former St. Mark's Catholic Church complex at 3500 Montgomery Road in Evanston will be sold via a public auction. Bidding for the site, which has faced stalled redevelopment plans, will open on October 26, 2026.

Why it matters

The sale offers a potential path forward for a property whose original redevelopment plans failed to materialize. An auction allows for a new owner to repurpose the historic site for alternative use.

The property at 3500 Montgomery Road carries a $150,000 starting bid. The auction, which features a reserve price, is being facilitated through the Crexi Auction platform.

The players

St. Mark's Catholic Church

This former house of worship located at 3500 Montgomery Road in Evanston is the primary site being offered for sale.

Astonish Commercial Real Estate Services

Based in Blue Ash, this brokerage firm is managing the commercial auction process for the property.

The details

Astonish Commercial Real Estate Services is overseeing the auction for the church complex. The site remains a prominent location in Evanston, and the upcoming auction serves as a way to solicit new bids after previous efforts to renovate or redevelop the structure were unsuccessful.

Timeline

  1. The auction period for the St. Mark's Church complex will run from October 26 to October 28, 2026.

Culture Shift

The sale of the St. Mark's Church complex reflects the ongoing trend of the conversion of historic religious properties into mixed-use commercial space. This movement repurposes aging assets as traditional neighborhood church attendance declines.

Residents in the Evanston neighborhood may see increased activity or renewed development planning following the site's sale. Interested investors or developers will need to review the specific reserve price and auction terms on the Crexi platform before participating.

The takeaway

The auction of the St. Mark's complex represents a critical transition for a high-profile neighborhood landmark. Prospective buyers should carefully evaluate zoning and renovation costs to determine if the site fits their development goals.

Further reading

For more information on the local market, visit Cincinnati Commercial.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WKRC.

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Should your local government prioritize repurposing abandoned historic church buildings for community use?