LDS Church proposes new Henderson facility

By Jeremy Twitchell

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 | midnight

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has proposed a new meeting facility in downtown Henderson on the site of an old one that was recently torn down.

The 24,000-square-foot building at Water Street and Ocean Avenue would be a stake center, which is larger than the average church meetinghouse and meant to handle occasional meetings of multiple congregations as well as weeknight activities.

The Henderson Planning Commission approved the proposal Aug. 28 by a 6-0 vote. The matter is scheduled to be considered by the City Council for final approval Sept. 16.

The previous church building, which was built in the mid-1950s, was torn down last year because of safety concerns.

"There were some structural issues that made us concerned for the safety of the members," said Stephen K. Jones, president of the Black Mountain Stake, which will be housed in the building.

Jones said the old building played an important role in the church's local history, and the realization that it needed to be removed was painful.

"It's always difficult to see a building torn down, even if it hasn't been there very long," he said. "But this building had a lot of history and memories in it for the local members of the church."

Church representatives have asked the city to waive the design guidelines that normally govern non-residential buildings in the Water Street District. Those guidelines require buildings to be two stories high and be designed in the district's Art Deco style.

The representatives said the church has a standard design for such buildings, which is one story and a more traditional style.

City planners wrote in a memo to the Planning Commission that the 39-foot steeple shown on the church plan would provide some of the desired height, while providing for a transition from the business district to the residential area, and recommended that the waivers be granted. Planning commissioners agreed.

Jones said the city was easy to work with and that church leaders plan for the new facility to provide public services, including a family history research center that will be open to the public. A similar facility existed in the previous building as well.

"We have had no problems at all with the city," Jones said. "We plan on being good neighbors with the community, and we think it's important in the redevelopment process that the church have a presence downtown."

Jeremy Twitchell is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8928 or [email protected].