By Sara Beth Williams–
Plans submitted by an area Ukrainian church proposing the remodel of a vacant commercial building on Auburn Boulevard into a new church have officially been withdrawn, according to an update on the city’s website.
Spring of Life Church purchased the vacant building for $3.95 million in 2023, according to prior reports. Architectural plans for the 50,500-square-foot commercial space were submitted in mid-2024. In an interview at the time, a representative of the church suggested the church could potentially open in 2026.
The building was then listed for sale by its owner in mid-2025. Commercial real estate site LoopNet lists the 60,000-square-foot property for sale at $5.199 million, highlighting its “excellent freeway exposure, strong traffic counts, and ample parking potential.”
In a statement received in 2025, the city said if no communication regarding the project was received by mid-November 2025, the city would consider the application officially withdrawn in accordance with standard procedures. Applications that are inactive for six months or more are considered withdrawn unless an extension is requested.
The city’s most recent update on the project’s status is listed as Dec. 18 and it is listed as withdrawn.
The prominent anchor building in the Citrus Grove shopping center has changed hands multiple times and was previously home to a Kmart until the company went bankrupt in 2016. Studio Movie Grill then submitted plans for the building, but the project was officially abandoned in 2021 following the company’s bankruptcy filing in 2020.
An adjacent portion of the building, once home to Big Lots from April 2019 to January 2023, was not included in Spring of Life’s acquisition. Currently, the adjacent building houses Fun City, a trampoline and adventure park.
The shopping center is also home to California Burgers, Jack in the Box, Gold’s Gym, and Greenhouse Café. The Discount Store also vacated its space and relocated to the Grand Oaks shopping center.
