Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Since vacating the property nearly eight years ago, the former Holy Cross Lutheran Church in West Glenwood Springs has pretty much stood vacant.
Alpine Quest Sports briefly operated out of the 8,200 square foot structure located at 62 County Road 135 following the church’s departure. However, come 2020, the former place of worship/retail sports store will turn into a 13-unit, multi-family building according to architect and project applicant Brad Jordan.
“They are all going to be one-bedroom units, self-contained,” Jordan said. “They’ve got a bedroom, bathroom, living area, a small dining area and a kitchen.”
According to Garfield County assessor records, TB and SB LLC based out of Glenwood Springs owns the property.
Jordan thought the new multi-family building would be completed in late spring or early summer.
“I believe [TB and SB LLC] are going to hold it out as a rental, for the time being, but it has been approved for (condominiums),” Jordan said. “The construction will be so that the units can be sold.”
Jordan said that rates had not been finalized, but did confirm that the multi-family building would not include “affordable housing” units.
“The city has some incentives to make so many units affordable. Unfortunately, they have not been able to come up with something that is really feasible on a smaller project like this,” Jordan said.
The plans do not call for the former church’s demolition, but the exterior will be redone with stone and stucco and the structure’s interior will be gutted.
Each unit ranges between 595 and 1,030 square feet in size.
Additionally, the property will include 20 parking spaces.
Previously, the former church property was approximately 1 acre and extended to Highway 6. However, TB and SB LLC opted to convert the land into two half-acre properties.
“The parcel that is adjacent to Highway 6 and 24 could be developed into a commercial space or residential…down the road,” Jordan said.
Upon completion, Jordan did not think the structure would resemble that of a former church.
“We always need housing in this area and the building was just becoming more dilapidated and non-useable,” Jordan said. “Everything led the client down the path of we could develop this into housing, provide something this city needs and come up with a project that is much nicer looking than what is currently there.”
