Dear Companions on the Journey:
The physical limitations of the current Episcopal House at 31 Mulberry Street in Newark have been apparent for many years. While we appreciated the central Newark location, Bishops Croneberger, Beckwith, and I also recognized that the building itself presents challenges in adequately supporting the ministry of our staff, congregations and diocesan organizations.
In early 2021, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) asked the Bishop’s Office to consider selling the building to the arts center as part of a major expansion project. In response, in April 2021 I called together a small committee, the 31 Mulberry Discernment Group, with the goal of determining if the current building could meet our ministry needs or if we needed to look for a new site.
After spending a year seeking input from staff, tenants, space use specialists, architects, and commercial realtors, the group recommended to the Trustees of the Diocese and to me, that indeed it was time to sell the building and look for a new site for Episcopal House.
As a result of their recommendation, a contract for the sale of 31 Mulberry Street to NJPAC has been signed with closing to take place by September 2024. We have two years to find, purchase or lease property, prepare the property for use, and move.
NJPAC intends to incorporate the building into their current plan for the further development of the area around the performing arts center.