The Chilliwack School District hopes to purchase a church for just over $3 million, and then lease it back to the current owners for three to five years.
Christ Lutheran Church Chilliwack sits at the same dead-end of Charles Street as Chilliwack Middle School. The potential deal would mean the district could plan an expansion of the school, which has long been over capacity.
The plan is going to the board of education on Tuesday evening (June 17), and was proposed by the church to the school district. The negotiations would have been dealt with at in-camera meetings until this week's meeting, where the board will discuss it publicly and vote on a decision.
The agenda item includes some background from staff, including the district's continued student enrollment growth and the lack of available development areas. These issues have both led to "pressure to make additions to exising schools or build new schools."
Leadership of the Christ Lutheran Church Chilliwack approached the district regarding the site of the church in downtown Chilliwack," the staff report states. "With growth in this area, the district foresees using the site for expansion of the existing school. This site represents one of the few potentially available sites in downtown Chilliwack."
They also believe the purchase of the site will provide the district with "several options' for future expansion, but they do not have immediate plans to use the site.
The site is .73 acres and includes the church and its parking lot, at 9460 Charles St. The total purchase price would be $3,040,000, and then it would be leased back to the church for their use for the next three to five years, while the district plans how to use the property.
The funds to purchase the site would come from the district's school site acquisition fund, in accordance with the Eligible School Site Requirement Resolution.
Christ Lutheran Church Chilliwack was established on January 18, 1940, according to the church's website. The original building was located at Victor and Cleveland Streets. The current building on Charles Street was dedicated by the church on May 16, 1971.
The board will also be adopting its annual budget for next school year at the July 17 meeting, at $246,451,401. The budget balances estimated expenses to forecasted revenues, and use of accumulated surplus. It has to be submitted to the province for approval by the end of June.