Church Moves Ahead With Building Plans
A local church is forging ahead with its plan to build a new sanctuary after the Northridge earthquake damaged its current one.
On Friday, a city zoning official will consider St. James Presbyterian Church’s bid for a conditional-use permit to build a driveway and 156-space parking lot on land that is zoned residential. The church’s request for permission to sell part of its Ventura Boulevard property will be handled as a separate matter.
The quake caused the 10,000-square-foot sanctuary’s ceiling and light fixtures to fall and cracks to form along the structure’s walls. The congregation has raised some money to replace the church and expects that selling part of its property will make up the difference needed to rebuild.
St. James, at 19414 Ventura Blvd., wants to demolish the existing sanctuary and a 430-square-foot office building and replace them with a 17,000-square-foot church and preschool.
The hearing will be held at 9 a.m. at the Sherman Oaks Woman’s Club, 4808 Kester Ave.
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