Vacant San Pedro Church Building Burns as Site Awaits Housing Project

On Jan. 31, a fire destroyed Union Baptist Missionary Church on Harbor Boulevard. Ninety-three firefighters knocked down the blaze in 58 minutes through coordinated interior and exterior operations at the boarded-up former church. Primary and secondary searches confirmed no one was inside the building, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was undetermined.

The property at 101 S. Harbor Blvd. in San Pedro was acquired in May 2025 by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles for $2.25 million as part of the broader Rancho San Pedro redevelopment effort known as One San Pedro.

Before the fire, HACLA planned to partner with National CORE for site remediation and demolition, with the property slated for temporary facilities and eventual housing development.

The main building was constructed in 1920 by the Seamen’s Church Institute. Four additional structures were built in 1924 to serve as a recreation center for sailors.

Founded in 1834 in Lower Manhattan, the Seamen’s Church Institute is a nonprofit that provides pastoral care, safe lodging and support to mariners arriving in port. The organization later established regional centers in major U.S. ports, including on the West Coast. In San Pedro, an SCI-affiliated seafarers center offered hospitality services, counseling and spiritual support to merchant mariners between voyages.

In the early 1960s, SCI sold or transferred the Harbor Boulevard property to Union Baptist Missionary Church, then led by the Rev. DeWitt Bradley. The church was founded in the early 1940s, shortly after Bradley moved his family to San Pedro from Harrison, Texas. For the first 20 years of his ministry, he and his congregation worshiped with neighboring churches while establishing a permanent home in the community.

Until his death, Bradley was a 51-year San Pedro resident. During his tenure, he sponsored Head Start programs, created a prison ministry, and helped organize the Harbor Community Church Agency while leading the congregation.