Community of Hope gaining building in deal with school

Leaders of Community of Hope Church have entered into a partnership with Leading Edge Academy, a Gilbert-based educational provider, that will land the fellowship in a permanent building by the start of 2010.

The agreement stipulates that the church will lease a portion of its five-acre parcel located next to Pacana Park to the academy.

In exchange, the academy will then place a 19,800-square-foot modular building, purchased from the city of Surprise, on the property and lease a portion of the space back to the church to host Sunday services.

“We are looking on how we can turn this parcel of land into something that can really benefit the community and this partnership will fit that vision,” said Community of Hope board member Jim Rives.

While church services will start in early 2010 in the structure, Rives said it may be a few years before the academy begins offering educational services in Maricopa.

Currently, several pieces of the building have been transported and are awaiting approval from the City Council to be assembled.

While the church works on the last few details in getting the modular building in place, it has hired several architects to begin the design stages of other buildings planned for the parcel.

“We have no time table for completion of our church complex but are moving forward,” Rives said.

Submitted photo