Friday, December 21, 2001
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Friday, December 21, 2001 |
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Line Creek Church will sell property to commercial developers, move to Coweta By JOHN
MUNFORD How about a bookstore, or an electronics superstore? In the physical sense, such a scenario is likely to happen now that members of Line Creek Baptist Church have voted to sell the church's eight acres to RAM Development. In the literal sense, church officials plan to relocate to Coweta County. But once the church is gone, the campus off Ga. Highway 54 at the intersection of Huddleston Road is likely to become home to a retail-oriented business. RAM is developing other commercial projects in the area, the largest of which are Home Depot and Wal-Mart. It also controls many of the outparcels in the area that front on the northern side of Hwy. 54 West. Although the contract with RAM has not been signed yet, "it is just a formality," said Associate Pastor Bobby Carpenter. "This is something we very prayerfully considered," Carpenter said. "Overall it's going to be better for the church." He noted a variety of reasons which factored into the church's decision to relocate, including: How the widening of Hwy. 54 would take away the driveway to the church's fellowship hall, with the right-of-way coming within eight feet of the structure; Heavy traffic in the area, which makes it difficult for motorists heading eastbound towards Peachtree City to leave the parking lot; The current site doesn't have enough room to expand the current buildings. "There were a lot of different factors that indicated it might be best to relocate," Carpenter said. The decision to sell the property was discussed by the church for 90 days before a vote was taken, Carpenter said. Only three or four persons voted against the move, and that was largely due to wishes not to leave the church's cemetery. The contract being reviewed by RAM includes provisions for the perpetual care of the cemetary, Carpenter said. The church has already bought 15 acres in Coweta County off Bob Smith Road, just three and a half miles away, Carpenter said. There are no plans to change the name of the church and officials didn't want to lose members who live in Peachtree City and Fayetteville, Carpenter added. In fact, the church may be able to build a much larger structure and a 5,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose gymnasium "virtually debt-free" once all is said and done, Carpenter said. "It's a Godsend," Carpenter said. "We realize this is not a good place for us right now."
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