- November 23, 2024
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After 22 years of planning, Palm Coast United Methodist Church held a groundbreaking Tuesday, July 27, for its north campus.
The north campus at 6500 Belle Terre Parkway will replace the current church at 5200 Belle Terre Parkway. Construction will begin by the beginning of next year with the new church scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2023, according to Howard Holley, chairman of the church’s strategy and community relations committee.
Flagler Health+, which plans to builds a health and wellness village on a seven-acre parcel at the site, was also scheduled to hold a groundbreaking Tuesday in conjunction with the church but canceled its ceremony because of the recent COVID surge in the county.
Gina Mangus, vice president of strategy and business development for Flagler Health+, said in an email, “The team at Flagler Health+ was unable to join in the ceremonial groundbreaking event for the planned development in collaboration with Palm Coast United Methodist Church this morning, as we continue to focus on caring for an increasing number of COVID-19 patients and stopping the spread of the virus, during this new phase of the pandemic. Our construction timeline remains the same for the Flagler Health+ expansion into Palm Coast, and we are extremely excited to bring our health village concept to area residents.”
The Palm Coast United Methodist Church was founded in 1979. It acquired the north campus property at Belle Terre Parkway and Matanzas Woods Parkway in 1999, but had been unable to raise enough money to build the new facility.
That changed in 2019 when Larry Torino, chairman of the church’s north campus planning committee, facilitated selling some of the land to Dollar General, which opened a store a 1000 Matanzas Woods Parkway, and seven acres to Flagler Health+, which allowed the church to cover costs for the new facility.
“I was always told that surplus land is wasteful,” said Torino, who at 78 is also a part-time city planner for Flagler Beach.
Holley said the new church's size, about 25,000 square feet, won’t be much larger than the current church, but the design will allow for more meeting and gathering space, Holley said.
“Our school (capacity) will increase from 103 students to 160 students,” Holley said. “We’ll have youth ministry rooms and other youth and multipurpose rooms. The sanctuary will be flat floor, which will give us greater flexibility. It will be a sanctuary/multipurpose center.”
A road leading into the north campus will be named Torino Drive, in honor of Larry Torino. When deciding to name it a lane, road or drive, north campus planning committee member Beverly Patrick suggested drive, “because Larry’s drive got us here.”
“It is surreal, like a dream,” Torino said of the honor. “I’m really not one to look for the limelight, and I don’t know if it’s truly warranted, but I’m really honored for my family.”
Although the church is moving just two-and-a-half miles up Belle Terre Parkway, church officials are excited about moving into a large growth area of Palm Coast as well as partnering with Flagler Health+.
“This is truly a historic and spiritual moment for our church,” Lead Pastor Kevin James said. “To have Flagler Health+ and the church working hand and hand helps facilitate body, mind and soul. We’re a holistic ministry. Especially during the pandemic, we’re all health conscious and spiritually conscious. We’re looking forward to have an exciting partnership.”
