New church to be smaller than first envisioned

The Calvary Chapel of Carson City plans to reduce the size of its new church because of project costs.

Initially sought was a church and sanctuary of more than 19,000 square feet. Now church representatives are downsizing to about 13,400 square feet.

Calvary now has roughly 300 parishioners attending two worship services in a prefabricated metal building on Forrest Way near the Carson City Airport. The 7,000-square-foot building has 200 seats.

The new church would be on the west side of the planned southern span of the Carson City freeway, near the corner of Clearview and North View drives. It would seat at least 300 people, said Don Curd, a general contractor and a member of the church building committee.

"It's been one thing or another, but we are going forward now," Curd said. "God willing we'll be under construction by the end of April."

Two subsequent building phases would provide about 17,000 square feet of classroom space and a playground for up to 300 children. Calvary has no school currently.

"It's a strange area for a church of that size," said Richard Doke, who lives not far from the building site. He's "concerned about the entire thing - with the school - looking like a David Koresh-style compound."

Work on the new church was expected to be complete by spring 2008 and the cost to complete it will exceed $1.5 million, Curd said.

Though the church would be smaller than first planned, "it should be adequate for their needs," said Stephanie Hicks, a planner with R.O. Anderson Engineering Inc., the Minden firm designing the project.

Church officials originally anticipated the entire project - originally envisioned with a ballfield and pavilion - would be finished by 2014.

"We're going to try to do the best we can to be a blessing to the community," said Patrick Propster, Calvary's pastor.

The original plan was approved by the commission in March 2005.

Approval of this change in their building design by the city's Planning Commission was required before the project could proceed. The amended plan was approved Wednesday.

Calvary has been at its current location for seven years and in Carson City for 15 years. It also offers a Wednesday service, Bible studies and youth activities.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.