Outwardly Focused Church Creates Community Oriented Facility

We work on a variety of projects—each custom and unique—but these days we’re especially excited about our new project with Grace Place Church in northern Colorado.

Grace Place has outgrown its current facility in Berthoud, Colorado and hired us to lead it through the development of a larger church. But this project will be more than a just a church building. We are creating an outwardly focused campus with indoor and outdoor spaces to be used by the local community as well as the church.

Located at the gateway to the Town of Berthoud, Cross Creek Commons will join a growing movement among large churches toward broader community uses for facilities.

The 19-acre site at the southeast corner of Highways 287 and 56 will contain three separate buildings (two in Phase 1) and will include the Trailhead Café, a performing arts auditorium (with 600 seats), ”urban farms” for local food gardening, a new indoor and outdoor playground, a 10-feet wide bicycle trail, and eventually a recirculating creek/pond (with live fish) using non‐potable water.

The town is very excited about this project and has expressed desire to collaborate with Grace Place on portions of the project, particularly the regional trail that eventually will connect to Loveland to the north. We’re excited about helping a church partner with its community in this positive, mutually beneficial way.

Grace Place isn’t alone. Many churches around the nation have begun to shift the way they view their facilities to more of a community focus.

For example, in 2012 Granger Community Church in Indiana changed its name to Granger Commons to reflect its heart to serve its broader community. And last year Word of God Church in South Carolina purchased a tract of land with the specific goal of helping to redevelop a blighted area and provide community services.

To learn more about Development Advisors’ A to Z services for churches expanding their facilities, please visit our website or contact Scott McLean at scott@developco.com or 303-534-3344 x103.