Highland Presbyterian Plans $8M Expansion
150 Apartments Also Eyed on MT Church Property

By JOAN KERN, Staff
Lancaster New Era
Published: Jul 13, 2007 10:35 AM EST

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa - Manheim Township's Highland Presbyterian Church plans to spend $8 million to increase its space by about 75 percent.

To help fund the expansion, the church at 1801 Oregon Pike hopes to sell nine acres from the southern end of its property to Presbyterian Homes Inc. in Camp Hill for 150 independent living apartments for senior citizens.

Tentative plans are for three buildings, with 50 apartments each, to be built on the site. They will be on the tax rolls.

But first the church needs a zoning change for the tract, from Residential 2 to Institutional.

The township planning commission will consider the request at a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, and it will go before the commissioners on Aug. 13.

Seniors indirectly may be helping to pay for the 31,000-square-foot church expansion and renovation project, but youngsters will benefit the most.

"What's driving this whole project is more space for children and youth," said John Holtzapple, vice chairman of the building project steering committee.

According to plans, new construction will add a two-story youth wing housing classrooms, a library, and a multipurpose room with a full basketball court and a stage. A playground also will be constructed.

Unlike other recent Manheim Township church expansion projects — $6.4 million at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran and $8.8 million at Westminster Presbyterian — Highland's project will not touch the sanctuary.

However, a narthex described as small and inadequate for the 1,500-member congregation will be greatly enlarged.

"It pulls everything together," Holtzapple said. "It's the hub."

The new entrance to the narthex will include a portico.

On the East Roseville Road side of the 28-acre campus, a new double entrance will be constructed closer to that road's intersection with Oregon Pike. The new entrance will improve some visibility issues that exist on the sloping roadway at the current East Roseville Road entrance, according to a church spokesman.

A three-classroom wing will be demolished to make way for the reconfigured entrance.

The property's Oregon Pike entrance will not be affected by the changes.

The church's existing fellowship hall will be renovated to provide better acoustics and lighting for dining and large meetings, according to plans.

The yearlong project is scheduled to begin in January. Highland will mark the 50th anniversary of its charter in May, although celebrations of the milestone will be held throughout 2008 as construction takes place.

Plans for the project began in 2001 and a "Building New Foundations" funding campaign began in 2005.

If the township denies the zoning change for the senior apartments, Holtzapple said, the project still will go forward.

"We'll just incur more debt," he said.

Presbyterian Homes' plans for senior housing hinge on the zoning approval. No construction timeline has been set.

Holtzapple said the vision for the church has always included plans for retirement housing.

He said church projections show that for every Highland member who may choose to move into the proposed senior community, five additional residents of the apartments would attend the church.

Highland Presbyterian Church is built on a former farm. Its campus includes the Samaritan Counseling Center, in the former renovated farm house, a memorial garden and a ball field, none of which will be affected by the building expansion program.

The area proposed for the senior housing complex has been used by the church only for garden plots. Sunflowers bloom there now.

The tract borders the Roseville Apartments, Skyline Pool and Oregon Pike. Mature trees screen the tract from Oregon Pike, and a walking path borders the apartment complex property line.

According to the proposal submitted to Manheim Township, residents of the proposed senior community would be offered help with medications, occasional meals, planned activities and enrichment, but assisted living and nursing care will not be available.

The Rev. Bill Jackson has served as interim senior pastor of the church since the Rev. Lawrence Chottiner left in October to become the minister at Salisbury Presbyterian Church, Midlothian, Va.

Howard Livingston chairs the building project steering committee.

The firm of Beers & Hoffman Ltd. Shonk, Beyer, Schwear is the architect for the project, and High Construction will be the general contractor.

CONTACT US: jkern@LNPnews.com or 481-6028