Waldron
Street Christian Church
Ground Breaking Ceremony
Waldron Street Christian
Church begins expansion
Published in the Daily
Corinthian
on Tuesday, March 24, 2009
By Brant Sappington, Staff Writer
The roar of heavy equipment in downtown Corinth Monday marked
the start of a new era for Waldron Street Christian Church as
the church begins work on a major expansion project.
More than a century and a half after the church was founded at
its current location the congregation has begun an expansion to
allow it to continue its mission far into the future.
Monday's activity centered on the former Daily Corinthian building
on the corner of Waldron and Webster. Church Pastor Ted Avant
explained the building is being demolished and will be replaced
with a new all-purpose building. The original structure housed
the newspaper's main office and printing facility until 1984 when
the operation was moved to the current location on Harper Road.
The buildings have since housed a variety of other tenants.
Avant said the all-purpose building planned for the site will
serve as the first phase of the church's long-term expansion plan.
The building will house a fellowship hall, kitchen, classroom
and meeting space and will serve as a springboard for the expansion
by providing a place to hold services, classes and other church
activities while other renovations and going on.
The pastor said they hope to have the multi-purpose building completed
by Thanksgiving.
They envision the overall expansion project taking approximately
three years. The plan includes a new sanctuary building, the multi-purpose
building and a pedestrian bridge over Webster Street connecting
the buildings.
The renovation will preserve the historic sanctuary built in 1912
and will maintain the overall look of the existing buildings,
blending seamlessly into the downtown landscape.
The church was founded in 1858 at the current location. The original
building was torn down during the Union occupation of the city
during the Civil War and the bricks were used by Union soldiers
to build brick ovens.
By 1868, the church had begun a new wooden structure at the site.
In 1912, the current, rebuilt Waldron Street Christian Church
opened its doors and the education building was added in 1952.
Avant said they are excited about the opportunities the expansion
provides and are thankful the door has been opened for them to
remain downtown.
Board
approves downtown church expansion project Published in the Daily
Corinthian
on Thursday, August 21, 2008
By Jebb Johnston, Daily Corinthian Staff Writer
The Corinth
Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved a number of zoning variance
requests that will allow Waldron Street Christian Church to begin
a major expansion project that will extend to an adjacent block.
The
church expansion plans include a new sanctuary and multi-purpose
facility, renovation of the old Daily Corinthian building and
a bridge over Webster Street connecting the buildings.
The
original 1912 sanctuary will be preserved.
"Basically,
this project is going to encompass from the back of that building
all the way to the other side of the (former) Daily Corinthian
building," said Doug Thornton, architect for the project.
He said
the completed projected "basically will tie in as one large
structure."
The
church has purchased all property along Waldron from Taylor Street
to the east side of the old newspaper building.
The
church indicated that it chose to expand at its present 702 East
Waldron location rather than moving to a new green field site
outside of town.
"We
want it to look good for downtown," said Ted Avant, the church
minister. The board of adjustment met on Monday to consider the
church's requests and recommended approval of the following variances
to the Board of Aldermen:
- To
allow a pedestrian bridge crossing over Webster Street to connect
church buildings;
- to
allow a building footprint encroachment at the northwest corner
of Webster at Waldron Street;
- to
allow a private, fenced play area at the west portion of Webster
Street;
- to
allow the church to make sidewalk, curb and gutter and paving
improvements on Webster Street along the church's property lines
between Cruise and Waldron;
- to
allow canopy encroachment on the east side of Webster Street at
the multi purpose building;
- to encroach into the 25-foot rear yard setback on the west side
of Webster Street at the new sanctuary building;
- and
to remove existing encroachments on the property located on Webster
between Waldron and Cruise.
Aldermen
also gave approval for the use of bollards which would be used
to block Webster Street at certain times during church services
or special events. Use of the devices must be coordinated with
the street department and police department.
"Basically,
it's the same kind of thing that Disney World uses and these federal
type buildings where it pops up out of the street and locks in
place and it's key operated," said Thornton. "The main
reason we want to do it is for the safety of pedestrians."
Also,
"It's a little nicer look than having the orange barrels
out," he said.
The
pedestrian bridge will have clearance heights of 16 feet at the
center and 14 feet at the curb. The church plans to have a covered
drop-off area for each building under the bridge.
The
Corinth Preservation Commission and Mississippi Department of
Archives and History have signed off on the project.
Thornton
said the church aims to begin with renovation of the former newspaper
office, which will see interior improvements and a new facade,
within a month so that the building can temporarily be used for
services.
The
beginning of construction would then follow within six to eight
months, and the entire project is expected to take two to two-and-a-half
years to complete.
Building
Committee
Teddy
Avant, Chairman
Cary
Crum
Jan Hurley
Ted Avant
Brian Shirley
Betty Robertson
Lyle Tucker
Johnny Crotts
Billy Ray Briggs
Chip Wood
Thom Floyd
