ProgressNow Colorado | Jen Caltrider's Blog: That LifeBrige Union Development Issue is still an Issue in Longmont

That LifeBrige Union Development Issue is still an Issue in Longmont

By Jen Caltrider - Nov 1st, 2007 at 1:33 pm EDT

Also listed in: Longmont LifeBridge

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And to remind us of that, here's a good column in the Yellow Scene (a fairly new magazine for all things relating to north metro areas).

Jim Spencer (yes, that Jim Spencer, formerly of the Denver Post) does a good job of articulating the issue. Here's a smidge to get you started. But it's worth a full read, especially if you're new to the issue.

Separation of Church and Real Estate
However you describe LifeBridge Church's Union project, never call it the city of Longmont versus the Lord. The battle over a giant planned unit development on the outskirts of the city is not about the Almighty. It's about the almighty dollar. So when you look at the 348 acres near the intersection of Weld County roads 26 and 3 1/2, don't think separation of church and state.

Think separation of church and real estate. For good measure, toss in a city council's comeuppance from its constituents.
The LifeBridge PUD, with its 300 to 700 homes, 680,000-square-foot commercial development, 150,000-square-foot sports center, and million square feet of religious and civic use, may yet be built on what are now hay and corn fields bounded by dirt roads. But if this project is built as part of Longmont, it'll be constructed on the people's terms, not the dictates of politicians or the desires of a mega-church's development arm.

Jen Gartner and Doug Wray saw to that.

The special election in Longmont is set for January 29, 2008. It's a mail ballot election. If you are interested in helping on the campaign, please join our Longmont/LifeBrige group here. Lots of important issues facing the community on this one!

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They aint so bad

By Jaime R. Nov 2nd 2007 at 1:58 am EDT

I'm back playing the devils advocate, too busy with work and school to keep up with this a lot. Again, I don't feel there is anything underhanded or shifty about what Lifebridge has planned. And that areas going to get developed anyway, why not by people who do care about the community, have for 125 years and have initiated multiple service projects year after year expressing their love and concern for the community. They are not out to find loopholes and skew tax laws or wreck the environment (just the opposite). Heck, they could do that now if they wanted, but their staff is not living lavishly on anyones dime and that's not the plan for Union either.

Why not join them in doing some good for the community and join a service project? There are a lot to choose from.

Check out their side of the story:

http://www.lbcc.org/templates/ System/details.asp?id=22545&am p;am p;am p;am p;PID=487563

Its been said this isn't a religious issue, but I'm betting if this was US Homes, there'd be no protest. Don't tell me all big business has the communities best interests at hand. You actually are right though, because Lifebridge is not about religion, its about fostering a relationship with God. Whether you believe that or not, you can't say that's a bad thing or that the Bible doesn't have some good lessons to teach.

Re: They aint so bad

By Robert W. Nov 2nd 2007 at 4:36 am EDT

I feel for what you are saying. I can honestly and earnestly say, if they do want to help out and do good works and so on, no one is stopping them. Or what have I missed on that score?
As we learned from lessons in bible study, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's -- Jesus had no problem with that. In this case, 'Caesar' is the Longmont code. Just go along with it and the Constitution and do the other good works.
Another question is -- do two wrongs make a right? Again, something we all learned from bible study -- no indeed. So, if there are some developers who may not love us, have our best interests in mind, does this teach us that we should turn a blind eye to other developers, say of some church affiliation, who simply tell us, "We are different," or do we live by some standards that a community of souls have passed and say, "This is the law, this is our faith." This community is called 'Longmont'. It's a good place.
One wrong developer, another wrong developer – maybe that is still wrong, and the solution is to do the right thing.

By Jaime R. Nov 2nd 2007 at 10:39 am EDT

You misunderstood. My point wasn't to say that other developers have bad intentions (most don't, some do) or in any way saying that Lifebridge does. I'm saying that if this was some other developer, there would be no fuss. I agree completely with what you're saying regarding the passage about Caesar (great passage). And I'm pretty sure that Lifebridge does as well. Did you check out those links? They aren't planning on doing anything wrong or gaining unfair tax advantages at the expense of the city or tax payers. Like I said, they could have been doing that the last 125 years they've been here serving the comunity if they wanted to do that.

By Jaime R. Nov 2nd 2007 at 2:01 am EDT

Darnet - messed up a link again:


Lifebridge's demise

By J. Nichols Nov 16th 2007 at 3:28 am EST

It is really a shame that Lifebridge has lost sight as to its original goals many years ago. They were originally founded as a church and home for the people of Longmont. In recent years the pulpit and leadership of the church has been taken away from the clergy and taken over by land and housing developers. The 4C corporation has basically taken control of the church away from the people. The 'Union' project proposed by the 4C corporation would be a drain and burden to the city of Longmont. Turn Lifebridge back to the parishoners and let them continue the work of the church as it was originally intended

Re: Lifebridge's demise

By Jaime R. Nov 29th 2007 at 1:27 pm EST

Do petition supporters purposely only see things the way they want as opposed to the way things are? I wanted to hope you at least had some merit to your argument at first and wanted to hear your side, but the more I post and learn, the more it seems like everything you have is just completely based on dislike.

How can you say Lifebridge has lost its community focus? Did you not click on the link of all the activities they have to help the community - or did you choose to ignore it since it doesn't fit your argument - as seems to be the norm here? I can't even keep up with all the programs Lifebridge has for the community or the church body. They have tons of programs for both - for everyone - anyone.

You guys do the same with your main argument I hear about taxes. Look at the links. Did you even read the article the Times Call had interviweing the pastor of Lifebridge? Probably, but not with an open mind I bet. Tax questions have been answered - repeatedly. It's on paper - on websites.

Stop the hate.

Don't hurt Longmont and send a ton of tax money to Weld County instead.