Would you buy a house across the street from a church parking lot?

[Leros]

I found a house that I really like. A well kept 1910 house in a historic neighborhood. Recently renovated. Workshop in the back. The only catch is that the two lots across the street are a paved surface lot for the church a block over.

I'm having a hard time deciding if that should be a deal breaker or not. I've always wanted to live in this neighborhood and the house is fantastic. Any thoughts?

This is the situation:

 

[Homerboy]

Yeah, why not?
I bought one across the street from a gradeschool. Makes no difference.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

yes, I'd think twice about a night club but a church no problems

 

[highland145]

Lived next door to one for several years. No problems. I live next to a funeral home now. Very quiet people.

 

[IronWing]

Empty lots are the best neighbors one could hope for. I lived across the street from a church parking lot for a few years. Sunday morning and Wednesday nights were moderately busy. Other than that, empty.

 

[dainthomas]

What would the issue possibly be? Bingo nights getting too rowdy?

 

[NoTine42]

If they frequently overflow the lot and fill your road with on-the-street parking several times a week, it could be a bit annoying.

If they don't overflow the lot, then I don't think it's a problem.

 

[TwiceOver]

Drive through the neighborhood a few times per week, and see if it is a busy lot or not.

 

[Torn Mind]

Beware Pokemon Go users poking around because it might be marked as a gym.

 

[NetWareHead]

Drive through the neighborhood a few times per week, and see if it is a busy lot or not.

This. A church might be one of the best businesses to reside next to. A drive through the neighborhood around the time when they hold services would be worth it.

Be slightly wary if the church also is a homeless shelter or offers a soup kitchen etc... There is a shelter in my city where the homeless loiter and occasionally are the source of crime in that vicinity.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Drive through the neighborhood a few times per week, and see if it is a busy lot or not.

Basically this. It's probably nothing, and I wouldn't worry about it because, frankly, I sleep until midafternoon on Sundays anyway.

What saddens me a little is that somebody probably donated their house to the church, and the church tore it down to make the parking lot.

 

[pauldun170]

Church shouldn't be an issue. You have peak times on Sunday morning and then the handful of regulars throughout the week.

The potential issue is the lot and what happens during "off hours". How open it is. Is it fenced off? Is it accessible on the block the house is on?
If it's well lit then you are staring at an empty lot every night.
If it's poorly lit and easily accessible then its may invite undesirables after hours.
Really comes down to the neighborhood.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would not really see it as an issue. It's going to occasionally get busy with traffic, usually on sundays, but I'd imagine most traffic is probably going to be on the other side anyway.

 

[Paladin3]

Go have a chat with the four homeowners who have properties directly adjacent the parking lot. They'll have more 411 than ATOT will.

 

[pauldun170]

Go have a chat with the four homeowners who have properties directly adjacent the parking lot. They'll have more 411 than ATOT will.

great advice

 

[core2slow]

Lived next door to one for several years. No problems. I live next to a funeral home now. Very quiet people.

Would you say that they're...dead quiet?

 

[highland145]

Would you say that they're...dead quiet?

Like church mice.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

yes, I'd think twice about a night club but a church no problems

Drunks leaving a nightclub at 2am would bother me less than bible thumpers leaving a church at noon.

 

[Ruptga]

Like others have said, check it out on a Wednesday and a Sunday, you'll know pretty quickly if it's going to be a problem or not.

 

[Newbian]

Make sure you place a satanic symbol on your lawn visible from the parking lot to make a lot of friends.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Depends on the denomination. If it's JW's or Mormons you can expect lots of grassroots style activities in your neighborhood.

 

[lxskllr]

If you plan on having kids, the parking lot would be a good place for them to play.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I would not build close to a church because their bells are loud and the parking lot will be crowded.

I want quiet house in the woods.

 

[TheGardener]

Can't figure out what OP's problem is. Is it the aesthetics of a parking lot? Can you put up shrubbery that will grow to 8 feet? Traffic? Need more info.

 

[Imp]

I'm really not seeing the problem unless you're a devil worshipper... Grew up in a house on the same block as a humungulous church. No parking lot but funerals, weddings, parades, and other events year round. Place has great acoustics too. Woke up on many Sundays to a boy's choir singing -- also woke up to the damn bell ringing a bunch of times too.