Hope Community Church served up a steaming cup of controversy Monday when it asked the Columbus Planning Commission to let it move downtown and set up a coffee shop.
The church, which is currently on Highway 45 South near the Prairie Pointe Chevron, hopes to renovate the old movie theater at 401 Main St., across from the Gilmer Inn, by December to accommodate the church”s 150 or so members as well as a donations-driven coffee shop.
“We”ve thought about it and we want to embed ourselves in this downtown community,” said Pastor Bo Jeffares.
To become the first church in the immediate downtown area, the city would have to issue a permit to allow a non-business into the community commercial district. That could set a precedent, making it hard to say “no” to the next church that asks, some commissioners said.
Further complicating the issue, Jeffares said the church would pay property taxes and sales taxes on donations for coffee even though they”re exempted from them because of their nonprofit status.
After hearing arguments from the church and business owners, commissioners voted unanimously to table the request until next month”s meeting while they collect more information.
Setbacks like the one Monday could cause problems for the church, whose lease ends in December.
Jeffares said the church, which meets regularly just on Sunday mornings, wants to be downtown as soon as possible to reach people who have had bad experiences with traditional churches — people, he said, like some staying at the Gilmer Inn.
Although the project would fill a vacant space and contribute to city coffers, downtown property owner Chris Chain said he was worried the church would take more than it gave.
Not only would a downtown church fill a space that could be used by another business, but it would add to the parking headache downtown, he said.
“I”m not against the church at all, but I don”t want to interfere with the business we”re doing downtown,” he said, recommending that the church move to a residential district instead.
While the church is waiting for the next commission meeting, it will likely explain its project to the Main Street Association and may go before the Historic Preservation Commission.
Looking over the design schematics of the proposed facade for the church, City Engineer and Commissioner Kevin Stafford said he doubted the proposal would pass the Historic Preservation Commission unscathed.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
