Mars Hill: Ballard real-estate deal?

It looks like Mars Hill is really trying to generate more money from a real-estate deal on its original church in Ballard — without leaving the building. The building there is listed for sale on a commercial property website (a Reddit user picked up on it). The building is going for $8 million with a status of “available," but it is noted that the seller wants to lease it back. Mars Hill critic Warren Throckmorton suggests that the church would also be willing to have another tenant in the building Monday through Saturday. In an email responding to questions today, the church noted that the current lead pastor, Scott Harris has told members, "Due to our financial situation we are simply exploring opportunities that may be available to us. The building was put up for sale with the resolve that we have no intention on selling it unless someone will buy it who will lease it back to us so that we can continue to hold church services here for years to come."This all comes as founder Mark Driscoll has stepped aside while he attempts to deal with accusations of bullying, lies and mismanagement of church funds. As Crosscut's Stacey Solie wrote in July, there has been a mass exodus of parishoners. — T.W.