LAH congregation set to break ground this February

By Tim Seyfert, Town Crier Staff Writer

The effort to rebuild a Los Altos Hills church destroyed by arson last year continues to push on despite resistance from neighboring property owners.

Last month, the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer on Magdalena Avenue got the approval from Santa Clara County to build a 24,800-square-foot structure. The three-phase plan calls for rebuilding and expanding the destroyed church, constructing a new administration building and replacing its former one-story social hall with a two-story, 350-person banquet hall.

Groundbreaking is set to begin on the first two phases in February, but the banquet hall may not be built until the church can raise more money, said the Rev. Samer Youssef.

Even so, the possibility of having an event venue that can house more than 300 guests isn’t sitting well with some of the church’s neighbors.

Since construction proposals began earlier this year, the county has been receiving complaints from neighborhood residents who believe the new hall will increase off-site parking, traffic and noise in the area, according to officials from County Supervisor Liz Kniss’ office.

“The residents in the neighborhood are up in arms,” said land use liaison Yoyi Franco. “They’re really concerned.”

Still, as Franco assured “there isn’t really a reason to be concerned just yet.”

Youssef said construction on the new church should wrap up next December, with the new administration building following in about five years. However, with money tight and the status of the final phase still on the negotiation table, both Youssef and Franco said groundbreaking on the new banquet hall wouldn’t be a possibility for another 10 to 20 years. “Right now, we don’t have sufficient funds for phase three,” Youssef said. “But we are working to eventually have a new and improved structure for our ministry and its events.”

The church received $1.5 million from an insurance settlement and has been hosting fund-raisers to benefit the reconstruction. The first phase of construction is estimated at more that $2 million.

Many Los Altos and Los Altos Hills church choirs came together July 14, 2002, for a concert to benefit the church’s rebuilding, raising around $23,000. Other fund-raisers included $1,300 through a bake sale and private donations.

The church’s most recent benefit, the 22nd annual International Food Festival, sparked the ire of neighborhood residents, whose complaints about the noise and off-site parking from the festival prompted the county to require the church to obtain an entertainment permit for all of its events.

Its next benefit will be held Oct. 11 at the church site, with all proceeds going toward the construction project.