November 2024
After receiving 4 construction bids, in early November, the NLF Session approved the hiring of SYS Construction Company to renovate our new space at Inglewood Church. The renovation will include new flooring, painting, and upgraded light fixtures throughout the building. Additionally, we plan to demolish the existing stage and a load-bearing wall in the foyer area to accommodate a new café. For our education ministry, we will build cry rooms, create new classroom space, add sound paneling throughout the education wing, and build a stage.
Our renovation budget of $500,000 is based on the cost savings from our current monthly rent of $22,000 to our future rent of $15,000, calculated over the span of our 5-year lease. The estimated construction cost for these renovations is approximately $435,000.
Two updates to pray for:
Foyer Cafe Wall: The cafe wall in the foyer area is load-bearing, which means we’ll need to bring in a structural engineer and secure additional permits. Please pray for a smooth process, without complications or delays from the city.
Water Damage in Kids Area: We’ve discovered unexpected water damage in the kids' area that requires immediate attention. Please pray that the repairs go smoothly, and that our landlord (PCUSA) is responsive and quick in addressing the issue.
Beyond construction, we will need to allocate an additional $200,000 for essential furnishings, including chairs for our sanctuary, tables for classrooms, office furniture, and audio/video/lighting equipment. These items are valuable investments that can be transferred to our permanent home in the future.
For any questions or further information, please contact us at info@seattlenewlife.org.
Building Updates.
A simple website meant to provide updates to NLF congregation member of our building search process
Since 2015, we have been blessed to have worshipped at 3700 Monte Villa Pkwy. However, as of January 2023, we were informed that the property owner, Community Church Of Seattle, intends to sell our existing space to facilitate the expansion of their facilities. Consequently, we will need to relocate by January 2025, necessitating a journey for a new and suitable place of worship. For Questions, Faq’s and Updates, please scroll below.
2024 Updates:
AUGUST 30, 2024
Monthly Update: Key Progress Highlights
We’ve made significant strides this month, and here’s a quick overview of what’s been accomplished or is currently in progress:
Five-Year Lease Signed: We’re excited to confirm that a new five-year lease has been finalized, securing our commitment to the space.
Building Refresh Proposal Submitted: The proposal for the building refresh has been submitted to the city of Kirkland for permitting, with approval expected in 5-6 weeks.
Ongoing Clean-Up Efforts: Elders, staff, and various groups have started accessing the space regularly to begin clean-up. Our goal is to have the space ready for flooring and paint by October. Stay tuned for sign ups and how you can be involved.
Leadership Launch Event: Mark your calendars for September 14! We’ll be hosting a leadership launch event at the new church. For more details, please contact Kenny Park at kennypark@seattlenewlife.org for details.
JULY 26, 2024
We are in the final stages of reviewing the lease agreement. While it’s important to thoroughly examine the document before signing, both the PCUSA and New Life are committed to working together in harmony. We are confident in moving forward. Contractors have been hired to draw up the blueprints, which are expected to be completed by July 29, 2024. Once we receive the blueprints, we can begin obtaining estimates for the renovation.
JULY 11, 2024
It’s been just over a month since our last update, and we’re excited to share that Inglewood Church is emerging as a viable option for us. The building committee has been actively negotiating a lease, and we’ve visited the church several times to assess its potential.
The process has been a bit slower than anticipated, as we need to secure blueprints and an architect to determine the scope of work that we need to accomplish before we move in. Additionally, the Presbytery, which owns the building, is currently formulating an exit plan for the existing tenants. Presently, a small church, a preschool cohort, and various clubs utilize the space. They plan to phase out over the next year, which may complicate any construction or renovations we wish to undertake.
We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate this process!
MAY 31, 2024
Over the past couple of months, the elders have been diligently reviewing and negotiating the terms for the top three options listed below. Additionally, we evaluated three other potential locations; however, after careful consideration, they were deemed unsuitable for our church.
Clark Building and Columbia Winery: The Clark Building remains a viable option, but its parking limitations and the need to share the space with the non-profit Alpha present significant concerns. The Columbia Winery, on the other hand, is no longer a viable option due to space issues, cost, and the uncertainty of obtaining necessary permits.
Inglewood Church: Our first choice is Inglewood Church in Kirkland. The elders believe this temporary move strikes the right balance of cost, space, and flexibility, facilitating the future growth of New Life. We are in the final stages of reviewing the proposal with Inglewood Church and aim to finalize the agreement soon. Our next steps include visiting the space to pray, plan for renovations and the move-in.
APRIL 6, 2024
After prayerful consideration, the elders have narrowed down our options to three potential options:
Inglewood Church (7718 NE 141st St, Kirkland, WA)
Monthly Rent: $15,000 for approximately 22,000-25,000 Sq/Ft (Includes cost of utilities)
Lease Term: 5 year lease with no annual rent increase. Any potential cost increase due to maintenance and utilities would be discussed with the Presbytery Church Of United States of America (PCUSA), the owners of the space.
Clark Building First Floor (3700 Monte Villa Pkwy, Bothell WA) (Our current building)
Monthly Rent: $65,000 - $72,000/month for approximately 30,000 Sq/Ft. There is a price increase after further calculations, along with cost of utilities.
Lease Term: 8 year lease with 3% annual rent increase.
Columbia Winery
Monthly Rent: Unknown (potentially as low as $30,000/month) for 15,000-20,000 sqft of high ceiling warehouse space
Lease Term: 5 year with an option to purchase
Note: this space would require us to worship with a mobile set up while we renovate the space. The renovation may be upwards of a $1M mark. Warehouses require much more work to make a worship space (I.e. building out walls, insulation, hvac systems for heating and cooling, electrical work and plus permitting)
First two locations would require additional costs of approximately $500,000 for basic cosmetic renovations (i.e., painting, flooring, repairs) and the purchase of commercial furniture. We intend to pursue all three locations as there are details that need to ironed out that will impact the feasibility of our church moving to either location. However, at this stage, we are leaning towards the Inglewood Church for several reasons such as cost savings and the ability to grow as a church, which will elaborated in a future update.
MARCH 13, 2024
In the past month, we've explored several venues, compiling a summary that's organized alphabetically. This summary includes details such as the space's name, monthly cost, lease term, renovation expenses, high-level comments, and whether the location necessitates a mobile setup.
Clark Building First Floor (3700 Monte Villa Pkwy, Bothell WA) (Our current building)
Commercial Lease 22,273 Sq. Ft at $60,000/month for a 7 year term
$250,000 - 1 million in renovations.
This is contingent upon another company purchasing the entire building and leasing the bottom floor to New Life Fellowship.
No setup/teardown.
Columbia Winery (14030 NE 14th St, Woodinville, WA)
Commercial Lease ~30,000 Sq. Ft at $25,000/month (NNN)
No renovation cost.
We would partner with Landmark Events (owner) a wedding company. The building would be used to host weddings and office functions. NLF would have exclusive use from 8a-1pm with possible 2nd floor usage mid-week.
Setup/teardown would be required each week.
Image Church Shared Lease (3301 Monte Villa Pkwy, Bothell WA)
Commercial Lease 55,000 Sq. Ft at approx. $40,000/month (NNN) for a 10 month term with option to renew for an additional 5 years at an increased rate.
No renovation cost.
We would take the 11:30am worship time slot with Image Church worshipping at 9:00am. This location is down the street and was previously occupied by Churchome and Eastlake Church.
Minimal setup/teardown.
Inglewood Church (7718 NE 141st St, Kirkland, WA)
Commercial Lease 30,000 Sq. Ft at $15,000/month for a 5 year term
~$250,000 - 500,000 in renovations.
The PCUSA owns this church. This would be a shared space with a pre-school (M-Fri) occupying a quarter of the building, the Presbytery occupying 2 offices 7 days a week, and NLF having priority for all other spaces M-Sun.
Minimal setup/teardown.
Parklands Building D First Floor (20111 120th Ave Ne, Bothell WA)
22,273 Sq. Ft at $60,000/month. Term has not been discussed.
~$1 million in renovations.
This would be an expensive option and is less space than the Clark Building Option.Large occupancy permitting would be required.
No setup/teardown.
Building A at Canyon Park East (22215 26th Ave SE) 76,345 Sq/Ft office/warehouse combo is no longer a viable option due to cost.
FEBRUARY (Early)
We want to give the following updates:
Office Spaces Potential Options:
Building A at Canyon Park East (22215 26th Ave SE) 76,345 Sq/Ft office/warehouse combo. We would need to split this with another company.
Parklands Building D First Floor (22,273 Sq/Ft) - Still available but cost would be $60,000/month with $1 million in renovations. Large occupancy permitting would be required.
Columbia Winery: The warehouse buyer of this space is set to close in a couple weeks. They are open to the idea of a long-term lease with NLF where we would have exclusive Sunday use from 8a-1pm with possible 2nd floor use along with mid-week use. We are speaking with the company to see if this is a viable option.
Inglewood Presbyterian Church: No update at this time.
JANUARY
Due to New Life's current financial position, our church faces constraints in acquiring an appropriate facility to accommodate its congregation. Consequently, the elders have resolved to reach a decision by the second or third quarter regarding the lease of the following building options:
Vacant Church
Pros: Cost savings (monthly lease would cost approximately $25,000/month) and no requirement for a large occupancy permit.
Cons: Location challenges.
Office Space
Pros: Favorable location.
Cons: High costs (estimated at ~$60,000/month for a lease), need for major renovations (estimated at $1-2 million dollars), and the necessity to obtain a large occupancy permit (anticipated duration of approximately 6 months).
New Life Fellowship is presented with the following options:
a. Inglewood Presbyterian Church - A church that closed down in the Juanita/Kirkland area. b. Office Space - Numerous options available. c. Clark Building (Current Worship Space) - Not an option, as the Community Church of Seattle has rejected our Letter of Intent (LOI) to extend the lease or occupy additional space.
In response to these challenges, a building fund has been established to address the financial constraints and explore viable solutions for the congregation's future accommodation. Additionally, this Fall, we plan on launching a campaign that will address the vision and financial needs to accomplish what God has in store for New Life.
FAQ
-
We are looking at Bothell, Woodinville, and the Totem Lake area.
-
At this time, we are not considering a full mobile church setup. The purpose of leasing of purchasing a new church building is not merely for the sake of acquiring a building, however, it is so that NLF can fulfill the unique mission and vision that God has placed upon our church. We want to invest in the next generation. If there is one thing our children, need is stability. For this reason, we desire a space that does not require a complete weekly setup/tear down or a mobile setup, even at the cost of a financial burden.
-
We are open to purchasing a space, however, given our current financial state, we cannot afford to purchase a space that is comparable in size. We are looking at leasing options.
-
CCS plans to sell our current space. For this reason, we cannot stay in our current building.
-
The space we lease at 3700 Monte Vill a Pkwy, Bothell is approximately 17,000 SQ/FT.
-
We pay $22,000 each month including utilities, maintenance, and cleaning.
-
Our current building is estimated to cost ~$13-15 million dollars. To purchase 3700 Monte Pkwy and afford the monthly mortgage, we would need to raise at least 10 million dollars. Most commercial real estate lease options we are considering cost between $50,000-$60,000 per month. This does not include utilities or renovations. We are currently paying $22,000/month.
-
All of our elders are regularly updated on the status of the building search. Pastor Eric, Pastor Kenny, and Elder Song are in charge of spearheading the search and working directly with our realtor.
-
A large bio-tech company has taken over the lease across from 3700 Monte Villa Pkwy. There is a space for lease, however, the layout is not ideal and cost would be very high.
-
It’s difficult to answer this question but in short, the sooner the better. When looking to purchase or lease a commercial space, the deadline to decide will also be determined by the amount of tenant improvements that need to be accomplished to make a building ready for worship. Tenant improvements can take years or less than a month. That said, we would like to decide by early Fall of 2024.