Transforming Church Property- new

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 In June 2025 the congregation was given an update on the continued process of transforming church property. The following is an excerpt:

Affordable Housing Assoc. Nova Scotia (AHANS) and Resurrection have signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing at this point to work as partners in this ongoing investigation of a building project.  

 

AHANS is applying for additional grant money to cover legal costs and detailed design and budgeting. AHANS lawyers are drafting a Partnership Agreement and Land Lease. The Council has chosen legal counsel to represent our interests in reviewing those agreements. Once they are ready, Council will seek approval from the congregation before signing.

Since the end of June, the following tasks have been undertaken:

· Conversations with HRM regarding the merits of merging our two Property Identification Numbers (PIDs) to facilitate access from our sanctuary to the new building;

· Conversations with Property Services Valuation Corporation regarding future valuation and maintaining municipal tax-exempt status for our sanctuary;

· AHANS architect made a site visit and received our building blueprints;

· Preliminary work by our lawyer in collaboration with AHANS lawyer – funded by a grant from the Province of Nova Scotia;

· Approval by HRM of a grant of $325,000 to cover development soft costs such as architect’s fees;

· Conversations with CMHC regarding templates for legal documents including leasehold mortgage, assignment of rents and leases and tripartite agreement between CMHC, tenant (AHANS) and landlord (Resurrection).

As a reminder: the purpose of investigating the possibility of building on our property is to offer the congregation financial stability into the future while maintaining ownership of our land.

What might that look like in terms of future budgets?

Budget line items to be removed: 

· All expenses related to the parsonage (approximately $19,000 per year);

· Utilities, maintenance, supplies, cleaning of church hall (excluding the sanctuary);

· Property insurance.

Gain:

· Parsonage unit in new building; 

· Monthly land lease revenue of $8,333 + inflation (total of over $100,000 per year would cover the pastor’s salary and/or contribute to a fund to replace our sanctuary in the future);

· All property taxes will be paid by AHANS.

Next Steps:

· Lawyers will prepare Land Lease Agreement for review by Council (Partnership Agreement may be merged into the Land Lease);

· Architect will prepare initial design for new building;

· Meeting will be scheduled with congregation to review design and suggest changes;

· Architect will finalize building design;

· Final version of Land Lease will be circulated to congregation and vote to approve will be held;

· Application for 50-year low interest mortgage will be submitted to CMHC;

· Upon approval of project funding by CMHC, the following steps will occur:

o Temporarily relocate pastor’s family to alternative accommodations during construction;

o Demolish parsonage and church hall;

o Commence construction of new building.

Much thanks to Claire McIlveen who was the project coordinator and Tom Crouse and Bob Polvi who assisted on this project. 

Work began on the project in July 2025 with the removal of oil furnace heating systems. Work continued with new connection and meters from NS Power, a new electric panel, the installation of heat pumps, duct work, replacement of all fluorescent lighting, spray foam insulation in the basement, and cellulose insulation in the sanctuary eaves. Work was completed mid-December 2025. 

The project was made possible through Efficiency NS grant money, HST rebate, the generosity of two anonymous donors, and other special gifts to the building fund.