Lindsay church to build new worship place

After five years without a home, the 60-member congregation of the Lindsay Church of the Nazarene is looking forward to a new place to worship.

On Tuesday night, the Lindsay City Council approved the church’s plans to build a 6,400-square-foot structure on the eastern half of an empty three-acre parcel on the north side of East Hermosa Street, between Sycamore Avenue and Lafayette Avenue. The building will include a sanctuary, kitchen, offices, fellowship area, classrooms and a nursery.

“It is a big deal,” Pastor Mike Whitten said.

The three acre parcel has been owned by the Church of the Nazarene for 40 years and is currently undeveloped.

Five years ago, the church sold its original structure —which was built in 1921—at 200 North Gale Hill to its Spanish affiliate.

“It just got too old,” Whitten said.

Since then, it has paid rented space for worship service in nearby buildings including “The Rock” on Elmwood Avenue.

In January of 2007, the city council approved subdivision of a portion of the land into eight lots for residential development. Four lots would have faced Sycamore Avenue and four lots would have faced Lafayette Avenue, with the church structure built in the center of the property facing East Hermosa Street.

“In today’s market, that will not work,” Assistant City Manger Kindon Meik said.

Recognizing that residential development was not the best way to use the site, the Church of the Nazarene’s Board of Directors has decided to pursue loans to help pay for the construction.

Whitten could not estimate how much the undertaking will cost, or when construction will begin as the bid process for the project is not complete.

City Planner Bill Zigler said that the church board has overcome the biggest planning obstacles and now has only the “nuts and bolts” to deal with.

“The hurdle is done, the project is approved,” he said.

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.