POST FALLS - A church is raising the former Steve's Sports Dugout building from the dead.

Sky Prairie, a United Methodist Church that has been meeting at the Post Falls Theater for the past year, will lease the western half of the building at the intersection of Seltice Way and Greensferry Road.

"Steve's Sports Dugout is about to get a life," said John Weston, the church's pastor.

The building, which has been vacant for more than a year, has had water problems that have been repaired. During an auction this summer, no one even registered to bid on the building, once a popular, lively sports bar and eatery.

Known to locals as "the Dugout," the building was later occupied by other multiple restaurants, including the Blue Bay and Greensferry Crossing, that didn't make it.

Weston said the church has been renovating, including sectioning off a children's area, adding windows, painting and adding new carpet, in the 4,500-square-foot part that it will occupy.

"It is being completely transformed; we're ready to take it to the next level," Weston said.

The church will lease the space for the first year and evaluate where things stand after that.

"Our goal is that the church will grow enough to make an offer on the place in 2012 and take over the entire facility," he said.

Weston said a lot of people have stopped in during the renovation wondering what the activity is about after the building sat vacant for months.

"I think it's a wonderful location," Weston said. "We want to be in the heart of Post Falls in the middle of everything. Churches should be accessible and easy to find. We exist for our community. It's perfect for where we are and where we want to be."

Sky Prairie started in December 2009 and began meeting at Seltice Elementary before gathering at the theater.