Renovate or relocate? The challenge of too few parking spaces, not enough seats

CLEARWATER (FBW) — Land-locked. Parking-challenged. Out of room.

When a church outgrows its property, the alternatives are few—double and often triple, worship services and Sunday Schools, or move to a more spacious location.

Several congregations in Florida have chosen to relocate.

Calvary Baptist Church in downtown Clearwater has 127 parking spaces and 5500 members. For several years, neighboring businesses allowed church members to park in their lots, but, according to church administrator Larry Ponder, "competition for parking increased."

Although a few church members were emotionally attached to the church dome and opposed the move, the congregation voted to move seven miles east, to 28 acres at McMullen/ Booth and Drew Streets. Far from being in the middle of nowhere, Ponder said it is in the "middle of everywhere." More than 80,000 cars pass the property every day.

The church recently signed with Precept Builders of Dallas, Texas, to construct the 169,000-square feet of meeting space, which will be built all at one time.

"We found that building it all at once is the most economical and efficient way to do it," Ponder said.

The massive project comes with a $22 million price tag. A capital funds campaign will partially fund the undertaking. The sale of its downtown property- located on three city blocks and on the highest natural bluff in Clearwater—should provide a large percentage of the funds needed. One part of the property is already under contract to a developer.

In the 18-month wait for the new campus, the current building recently required repairs on the roof and air conditioning; and the business of relocating, which began under the leadership of pastor Bill Anderson, continues under interim pastor Ken Alford.

"God is faithful," Ponder said. "There is no sense in stopping now. We’re chugging along."

First Baptist Church in Naples moved its center of operations two miles north in January 2002. The 100 acres of land, which church members helped to clear of orange trees, is home to the 5500-member congregation and the 460 students of its First Baptist Academy.

The campus includes a 2000-seat auditorium, administration, education and youth buildings, gymnasium, state of the art chiller plant, soccer, and softball fields, playgrounds, volleyball and basketball courts, according to Hayes Wicker, pastor. Building square footage jumped from 70,000 to 170,000.

The land was purchased in 1996 for $3.5 million, which was paid in full in eighteen months after a "Possess the Land" capital campaign.

The congregation today owes only $900,000 of the $26.5 million cost of the buildings, according to Lou Hoegsted, church comptroller. A three-year campaign began in 2000.

"They have been so good to honor their pledges," he said.

The church's former location, 10 acres on Pine Ridge Road, was too small for the church's vision, according to Wicker.

"We had a dream to be a regional church in southwest Florida. We had multiple ministries even back then, and we could see God raising up even more," Wicker said. "We've had significant growth, even in the last six months, in baptisms, finances and attendance."

First Baptist Church, originally located on six acres in downtown Daytona Beach, had bought several near-by properties, including a gym and a computer shop, but growth projections predicted they would be "maxxed out" in five years. Parking is a challenge for church members. And dual Sunday Schools and worship services are crowded.

"We didn’t have much choice," said Peggy Campbell, secretary to Bobby Welch. "We had to remain in Daytona to remain what we are—First, Daytona. We had to go west to stay in Daytona."

Pastor Bobby Welch led the search for a new location. A 264-acre parcel was found at I-4 and I-95, near LPGA Boulevard. Because of protected wetlands, only 90 acres are usable for building.

The project is in the "do-diligent stage," according to Al Stone of the Ministry Relations Department of CCL Associates in Roswell, Ga., who are managing the project.

"This stage is all legwork," he said. "We try to buy plots of land, acquire the zoning, assess the soil value—all necessary parts of a large project."

The First, Daytona relocation is awaiting permits from the St. Johns Water Management District and the City of Daytona Beach.

"A proposal is submitted that has to be tweaked, sent back and tweaked again," Campbell said.

Meanwhile, a $6 million capital campaign is underway to finance property purchases.