Homes Planned for Church Property

A Pasadena-based church plans to raze three buildings near Sherman Way and Shoup Avenue to build 24 to 30 single-family homes.

Three buildings are currently located on the site: a former minister’s residence that is used by property caretakers, the Small World of the Valley Preschool and the Hyo Song Korean Church, said the Rev. Don Hughes, district administrator for the Los Angeles District Church of the Nazarene based in Pasadena.

All three buildings would be demolished to make room for the housing tract, he said.

About 40 years ago, the West Valley Church of the Nazarene was built on the site. The church closed about two years ago after its pastor accepted a position in Camarillo, Hughes said. The Korean church, which had been sharing space with the Nazarene congregation, then became the sole occupant of the church building, he said.

“We decided we will very likely dispose of the property if we can get the right kind of proposal,” Hughes said. “We’ll take the funds and start a church somewhere else.”

The developer of the housing proposal is W/F Construction Inc. in San Dimas. The cost of the houses is expected to start at $250,000, Hughes said.

The homes would be two stories, ranging from 1,600 to 1,900 square feet. They will all have backyards, but the designs of the houses are still being considered, he said.

On Wednesday night, the Woodland Hills/West Hills Neighborhood Planning Advisory Council discussed the project at the Platt Library, where residents raised concerns about the design of the houses. More meetings with area residents, church officials, the developer and members of City Councilwoman Laura Chick’s office are expected to attend.

“We’ve had a good relationship with neighbors for half a century and we want to leave the area with a good relationship with all the neighbors,” Hughes said.

The site is currently zoned for agriculture, officials said, and it is expected to take about 14 months to get a zoning change and city approval for the project.