BZA approves special exception for school

July 03--ANDERSON -- After gaining approval for a special use exception, the Anderson Christian School is hoping to reopen this fall at a location on Broadway.

The Anderson Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday approved the granting of a special exception for the former Layman Life insurance building at 1100 Broadway. The property is zoned for business use.

In making the motion to approve the request, Greg Spencer, board member, said he didn't want to see the building remain empty.

"North Anderson is a viable community," he said. "We don't want abandoned buildings in the area."

The building has been vacant for at least four years, Frank Owens, director of the Municipal Development Department, said.

Steve Cash, president of the school board for Anderson Christian School, said following the vote that the granting of the special exception was a major key in the process.

"We're crafting our proposal," Cash said of trying to purchase the building from Aspire Indiana, which was in support of the special exception request. "We hope to close by the end of the month. We're working on the financing."

During the meeting, Cash said the intent is to relocate all grades of the school there, from child care to high school.

"Our numbers are small," he said. "The building is the appropriate size at the current time. This is a good location for the school."

School officials will have to install a fire suppression system before the building can be opened. Cash said the state has to approve those plans.

Cash said Anderson Christian is currently enrolling students, adding the start of the school year might have to be pushed back to September.

BZA Chairman John Suko asked about access to the parking lot, located in the rear of the building. The only entrance is on a road shared with the entrance to Shadyside Park.

Cash said the school hopes to reach an agreement with the Masonic Lodge to the south to allow the use of a parking lot for parents to pick up and drop off students.

"I see traffic as a potential problem in the area," Suko said.

The Broadway building contains 22,680 square feet on 1.15 acres and is listed for sale at $189,000 by Aspire Indiana, which is based in Noblesville.

In 2013, it appeared likely Anderson Christian School and the Lindberg Road Church of God would have to relocate when the church went bankrupt. The bankruptcy ruling came after a court battle with Star Financial Bank that stemmed from a line of credit in 2007.</p>

At the time, the attorney for Lindberg Church of God proposed a restructuring plan for the $2.5 million debt, but it was denied by the court.

Anderson Christian School opened in the 1970s and added high school classes in 2009. The lease with Star Financial Bank expired on June 1 for the building at 2625 Lindberg Road.

The Layman Life building has also housed the Center for Mental Health and Champion Financial over the past few years.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 640-4863.

Anderson Christian School lost lease on June 1 at its 2625 Lindberg Road building. School along with Aspire Indiana received special exception to operate at former Layman Life building at 1100 Broadway. School officials hope to close on the purchase of the building by end of July.

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