CHURCHES IN BUSINESS PARKS?

Written by: Joseph R. Krusinski

When a church needs to relocate, a business park almost certainly is not the first alternative that leaps to mind. Nonetheless, the proliferation of mega-churches has brought the advantages of a business park location into focus. Such sites may seem out of character for a church at first blush, notes Joseph R. Krusinski, CEO of Krusinski Construction of Oak Brook, Ill., but they are surprisingly practical, a lesson he learned when his firm built the 59,000-square-foot Hawthorn Hills Community Church in a business park in Libertyville, Ill., a couple of years ago. Here is a brief summary of the chief benefits that such locations offer:

Building sites provide ample parking space, accommodate ambitious expansion plans and usually cost significantly less than a comparable location in a residential area.

Construction costs are often lower in business parks. Instead of traditional architecture calling for expensive masonry and stained glass, churches are free to use pre-cast concrete panels. Concrete is relatively less expensive and lends itself to large multi-purpose buildings. In a residential area, such architectural materials might seem out of place.

Business parks typically are near major highways, allowing a congregation to expand its reach from the traditional radius of three or four miles to 15 or 20 miles.

Roads within and leading to business parks accommodate high traffic volumes. For churchgoers, that will mean fewer traffic hassles.

Business park infrastructure, including sewer, water and electric, is built to accommodate the heavy usage of commercial buildings. Thus, there is ample capacity for the needs of a large church.

Friction between church operations and those of immediate neighbors is minimal. Businesses are most active on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., while church activity is the most intense during evenings and weekends.

Buyers often can have an option or right of first refusal on an adjoining vacant site, providing a low-cost way to bank additional land for expansion without purchasing it immediately.

Multi-use church buildings in a business park can be designed for conversion to non-church uses (such as warehouse space) at a later date, making them easier to sell should the need arise.