“When they added up the cost, however, it wasn’t worth it. It wouldn’t have added enough parking spaces to meet our current needs (let alone future growth), and the per-space cost would have been several thousand dollars.”

Exactly… prior to the zoning change on 1215 N University, the Pastor gave a presentation making the case for what they wanted to do. He presented current attendance, the growth, and projected growth. By his own admission, if the church were to acquire all that it wanted, it would still not be enough. The possibility of BEMC relocating would still exist. This begs the question as to why they need to or want to go forward with this. I doubt the reasons have any benefit to the neighborhood. If anything, having a larger contiguous property would make it easier for them to move, not harder.

In talks, regarding the rezoning of 1215 N University, a deal was made whereby the church would need to provide a concrete plan before the URA or the city would consider any further zoning changes. To my knowledge this still has not occurred. It is also my understanding that some gentleman’s agreement existed that the church wasn’t going to buy houses on the Elmwood side, sticking to University only. Now the church is wanting to rezone 1216 Elmwood.

CJ.. sure BEMC does not have the clout of Bradley. They don’t need it if they have sympathetic officers and neighborhood ‘activists’ who seem far more willing to let the church go forward than the residents of Elmwood are comfortable with. When 1216 N University was up for rezoning 2 years ago, the officers sure sounded like they wanted to endorse the change. It was a struggle over a long meeting and a number of us got that changed to where the URA would neither endorse nor oppose the rezoning. I still think not opposing was a bad idea. The current move has been kept way to hush hush, which I surmise as an effort to keep participation low, therein begins the kernal of possible scandal.

He’s a nice, regular-kind-of guy named Tom. You might discover his intentions aren’t as explosive as you think.

Then again, maybe they’re worse. I honestly don’t know. I don’t attend, but I do know and respect Tom quite a bit.

It makes me wonder what Bradley Epworth would really be gaining by demolishing that house — another 8 spaces, maybe? Is that worth the acquisition and demolition costs? Will it meet their long-term needs? If they want to grow, I know a church building that’s for sale only a couple miles away that would give them plenty of parking and room to grow….

More seriously, I find it troubling, if it is true, that Lee Mehl sold her house to the church presumedly for demolition. Hey, it’s her house to do what she wants with it, and she certainly doesn’t have to answer to me, but I don’t believe the expansion of the church parking lot is worth it.

Isn’t there a zoning issue in here somewhere? Bradley Epworth doesn’t have the clout of Bradley University or the autonomy of District 150 — I’d think we could stop them from putting in a parking lot through zoning if direct talks break down. Seriously, though, hasn’t the neighborhood association been in contact with the church?