ThisWeek UA 09/22/2011
Lane Avenue Baptist Church is at the epicenter of a major redevelopment plan, but for the moment, church officials are keeping mum about any land sale.
Both they and city representatives say the church continues to remain on the sidelines.
According to city documents, Lane Avenue Redevelopment LLC, a private real estate group, is moving forward with plans to redevelop the property into a Cambria Suites hotel, apartments and mixed retail, restaurant and office space.
ThisWeek previously reported that Nelson Yoder, an associate architect with M+A Architects in Columbus that is working on the development plan, said the group would like to break ground by the end of the year.
“The developer has been the sole project advocate for this redevelopment,” said Matt Shad, the city’s economic development director, noting that the church has not been participating in any of the development planning meetings.
ThisWeek has learned that Yoder recently received approval through the Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission for a conditional use permit that would allow a church on property owned by MCI International Inc. at 4770 Britton Parkway, according to Hilliard city planner John Talentino.
Hilliard economic development director David Meeks told ThisWeek that the Lane Avenue Baptist Church was searching for space that would allow for daycare facilities, which presented a challenge in the city because of zoning. He said the land owned by MCI isn’t in an industrial area, so it would work for that use.
A representative of the Franklin County Auditor’s Office verified that the MCI property has not yet changed owners.
Lane Avenue Baptist Church Pastor Wayne Nicholson said the church has not put its property up for sale but, due to its location, the congregation regularly hears from people interested in the property.
“If circumstances work out and several pieces of the puzzle fall together, then it could happen (by December),” Nicholson said. “We only have had two issues that from time to time surface: It is whether to renovate or relocate. We’ve explored these off and on for years and until the situation was right, we’ve done neither.
“All I can say is there isn’t a committee doing anything with the developers. On the other hand, we have developed plans for either one of those options (renovate or relocate) and I think, in a relatively quick time, things could be done to those plans,” Nicholson said.
The church is paying close attention to what decisions are being made between the city and the developer, according to Nicholson, and is particularly interested in the concerns of the congregation and city residents.
“I think, once I know what the city and neighbors are thinking, I can make a more elaborate comment,” Nicholson said. “More than half our members live in Upper Arlington, so they wouldn’t sell to a company that does questionable business. Our concern is for the community.”
According to Nicholson, the church has a congregational government, which can either vote on individual matters or delegate authority to the trustees. In the case of a possible sale of the Lane Avenue property, a planning committee has been delegated the authority to approve the sale, based on specific criteria previously set by the congregation. Nicholson was unwilling to disclose the criteria, but said finances are a part of the overall consideration.
“From what I know from the committee, this is potentially good for everyone — not easy, but good for everyone. I better not say what the (financial) figures are because what I say may not be the final number,” Nicholson said. “I don’t want to put any constraints on the committee that potentially ends up talking with the buyer, but we have always had an idea of what our property is worth and what the development of a new property would cost, so we’re very mindful of that.
“As years have passed by, we’ve had this Plan A and Plan B, so that’s why we could respond fairly quickly either way,” he said. “The church members are very well informed so for now, we’re all waiting.”