Islamic center eyes purchase of former Holy Family church in East Deer

A potential buyer for the shuttered Holy Family Church in East Deer appears to be another religious organization.

Alfatimiah of Pittsburgh, a group that describes itself as operating “under the teachings of Islam,” is eyeing the site at 787 Freeport Road, according to East Deer officials.

However, the group will have to navigate a zoning process before the property, which is zoned commercial, could be used for that purpose.

“I feel it is a non-conforming use,” said Tony Taliani, East Deer commissioners chairman. “The church was there before the zoning ordinance was passed.”

He said the church was basically grandfathered in as a non-conforming use when the ordinance was passed.

Taliani and township Solicitor Craig Alexander said Alfatimiah will have to apply for a non-conforming use since the one applying to Holy Family lapsed six months after the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh stopped using it for religious services in 2022.

“Generally speaking — and I still have to review the ordinance more closely — if the property has not been utilized for that non-conforming use, it (the use) is considered abandoned,” Alexander said.

He said Alfatimiah can challenge that if it wishes, if the sale goes through.

Taliani said it doesn’t matter what religious organization or denomination wants to use it, the ordinance still applies.

“We don’t own the property, we have nothing to do with it, but we have to make sure the use complies with the township’s zoning,” Taliani said.

The commissioners on Thursday instructed Alexander to notify Tom Babinsack, business manager of Guardian Angels Parish, which includes the Holy Family property.

Babinsack submitted a request to the township for continued use of the building as a worship site, but declined to comment until after the sale is final.

In his letter to the township, Babinsack said “Alfatimiah of Pittsburgh is a small group who would mostly be using the complex on Saturday evenings and nights saved for religious holidays or special occasions.”

The price for the former Catholic church is listed as $195,000, according to crexi.com.

No one from Alfatimiah could immediately be reached for comment. Neither the diocese nor Alfatimiah had a representative at Thursday evening’s supervisors meeting.

The group, founded in 2012, is currently situated in Etna.

According to the borough website, Alfatimiah operates with the mission to pursue Islamic religious, social and educational activities. The center provides a place for prayer and other religious observances, along with cultural activities.

“They have been good neighbors for sure,” said Etna Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage. “We haven’t had any issues at all with them.”

The building was among five Guardian Angel Parish churches closed by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2022.

As the property owner, the diocese would have to approve any sale.

Diocese spokeswoman Jennifer Antkowiak did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

The 6,600-square-foot lot is assessed at $189,000, according to the Allegheny County real estate website.

“This will have to go through all the zoning,” Taliani said.

Holy Family is one of three closed Guardian Angel church buildings still vacant. Others are St. Alphonsus in Springdale and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Harrison.

St. Ladislaus, in the Natrona section of Harrison, was demolished, and Holy Martyrs in Tarentum was sold to Legends of Pittsburgh gym, formerly in the Pittsburgh Mills, for $360,000.