BLOOMINGTON - The First Christian Church is getting out of the property rental business by tearing down the houses it owns along the 400 block of West Monroe Street, including one that burned last week.

The church, 401 W. Jefferson St., started a six-month project to tear down the six houses, which it has owned for more than 10 years.

The six houses, four facing Monroe street, one facing Lee Street and one facing Roosevelt Street, have been used as rental properties. For years, a local firm managed the properties for the church.

"But the time was ripe for us to stop renting them out," said Ed Manahan, a church trustee. Tenants were notified in October that they needed to be out by Dec. 31.

Once the houses are down, the land will be planted in grass and turned into green space, he added. Manahan said the demolition likely will be completed by April.

The church began buying the houses in the mid-1990s so it would have land available if it wanted to expand its facilities, Manahan said.

The properties could be turned into a parking lot, if needed, Manahan said, but it's unlikely.

Congregation members agreed to have the proceeds of a recent capital fund-drive go toward the demolition project. The church likely will spend about $140,000, Manahan said.

Two properties, 403 and 405 W. Monroe St., are vacant and construction workers have started removing asbestos as part of preliminary demolition work.

The building at 405 W. Monroe St. burned Nov. 12. Bloomington Fire Chief Keith Ranney said a cause remains under investigation.