Church offers temporary home to Buddhist center members after temple arson
UPPER ARLINGTON — It's not their usual meeting spot, but members of a Franklinton Buddhist temple say they're grateful. Those members met at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Upper Arlington for the first time Tuesday night after a fire destroyed their temple last weekend.
"It has been ruled an arson, but I don't have any other details, I do know there's an investigation going on," temple director Kim Miracle said Tuesday night.
She says even though the temple has owned the building for nearly 30 years, inspectors say it's too dangerous for repair, and needs to come down. Members say since the fire that gutted the nearly century-old building, they've been overwhelmed with offers from local churches and organizations to use their facility while they look for a new home.
A GoFundMe account for the organization has already raised more than $20,000 for a new building. Members say they hope to rebuild eventually on the same site.
