The Case for Building a
New Church and School to Serve the
Holy Spirit Parish (Continued)

Information available as of June 23, 2005

Effect on Pocatello/Chubbuck Community

• Desire to preserve St. Joseph Church resulted in Pastoral Council resolution to:
  • Put aside money for repairs
  • Keep the church as part of the parish (do not sell)
• Possible sale of St. Anthony (church and school) and St. Paul would be governed by diocese
  • Sell for "appropriate use"

Effect on Pocatello/Chubbuck Community

• Current ministries are not solely dependent on current locations
  • Could still minister to people in these neighborhoods
• However, neighbors may feel they are losing an important part of their neighborhood

Recommendation -- Part One

• So that we may provide for the future of our parish and our community in a way that is congruent with the wishes of the Bishop and the needs of the diocese, we must provide a church that is capable of seating 800 parisioners, at a minimum.

Primary Options Considered

• Remodel St. Anthony church
• Build church and school on Bench Rd. property (next to Highland High School)
• Acquire 20+ acres, build new church and school
• Note -- church would be built first, school later

Process for Considering Options

• Parish property committee (consisting of at least some people with construction experience) assessed property and recommended building new
• Architecture firm Conrad-Lombard and Associates was contracted to conduct a formal assessment of our properties and recommended building new

Remodeling St. Anthony

• Advantages
  • Preserves church building and spiritual/emotional attachment within the community
  • Central location for current Pocatello/Chubbuck population

Remodeling St. Anthony

• Disadvantages
  • Members of property committee and architecture firm stated that remodeling costs often approach or exceed new construction costs
  • Would have to buy up large number of houses in the neighborhood to provide parking
    • Cost estimate to purchase - $1.37 million
    • Risky -- may not want to sell
    • Questionable effect on neighborhood?

Remodeling St. Anthony

• Disadvantages
  • What to do about school?
    • Move to new location -- not close to church
    • Buy up more property to expand school?
    • Remodel school or demolish and rebuild?
  • Any use of St. Anthony property still leaves us "landlocked" and greatly constrains any future growth
  • According to capital campaign consultants, parishioners are more willing to give for new building than to remodel old

Build on Bench Road

• Advantages
  • Already own the land
• Disadvantages
  • Property barely large enough for church and school
  • Would have to build multi-story buildings--expensive (elevators, etc.) and less accessible
  • Would not allow for future growth

Acquire New Property

• Advantages
  • Room for church, school, adequate parking and playgrounds
  • Parish does not have to pay for any undeveloped portions of the property (diocese will pay)
  • Could be located where growth is occurring

Acquire New Property

• Disadvantages
  • Loss of St. Anthony and St. Paul
  • Emotional and spiritual attachment to buildings
• Most current parishioners will have to travel farther to attend Mass

Recommendation -- Part Two

• Purchase new property
• Conduct feasibility study to determine potential resources available
• Conduct formal estimate of the costs of building a new church, school
• Plan/conduct the campaign
  • One phase or two?
• Plan the building of the church
• Once the campaign reaches 70%, begin construction