We have been receiving lots of questions about the work being done on our neighbouring property. I thought I would share another update on that as well as some context.
The first thing to know is that the majority of the lot next door to the church is not our property. The church membership voted to sell this portion of the property back in 2017. None of our current staff were in leadership at that time, but I am sure the decision to sell that land was a difficult one to make. Since this sale in 2018, our understanding is that the property has changed hands several times. It is now owned by developer, Crowne Pacific, and they have begun construction on what will be a 4 story, 44 unit apartment complex called, “Opus.”
Once we knew this project was coming, we began conversations with the developer about how we could work together successfully during the construction phase of this project. SCC still owns a portion of the field, which in the past has been used for youth activities. However, the space we still own as a church is no longer large enough to accommodate our youth group. We want this field to be used for more than just mowing and an area for people’s pets. We are thrilled that we have found a use for this space that will be a win-win for both us and our new neighbours.
We have made an agreement that the developer will do the work of turning our field into a gravel parking area at their expense. In return, they will have sole access to that lot during the construction phase of their project. Crowne Pacific will use this for trade parking and material storage. Adding parking was a part of our long-term planning needs and we are thankful that this goal can be accomplished in such a co-operative way. So…even though it looks like the whole field is turning into apartment buildings, that is not the case. As the project progresses, the two different uses will become more visible.
We have also received some questions about why we let the grass die along the roads. That area was irrigated by a system that ran through the property that we sold, so when they began excavating that was the end of it. I am hopeful that we can improve that area and install a new irrigation system in the future, but it seems most prudent to wait until construction is completed.
We also want to plan for our Youth Ministry to have all the room they need for any outdoor activities. Thankfully, SCC has secured a rental of the South Broadview School lower field for Tuesday and Thursday youth nights in exchange for the school using our parking lot to assist in their daily drop off and pick up traffic. SCC has been allowing parents to use that space for quite some time and we have a strong relationship with the school. We are grateful that the school was willing to provide the field for us now that we need the space! This will also provide significant savings in water usage, not to mention less mowing. Bonus: the school field is just about as close as our own field was. Win-win again!
With all this equipment, there is a lot more activity around the property than we are used to. Please keep in mind that the entire construction area is completely off-limits at all times, including the section that the church owns. It would be a help if everyone could keep a lookout that no unauthorized people (i.e kids!) are entering the construction site, especially during youth drop-offs and Sunday mornings.
Let’s continue to pray for strong relationships with our neighbours and for all the future ministry opportunities coming our way.
In Christ,
Leah Campbell
Worship & Operations Director
