The City of Hope

2010 and Beyond

KPC is now in the final stretch of the City of Hope capital campaign.   What started as a vision has become tangible property in this very short time. Your generous giving has allowed us to purchase the Brown Farm, and we now have a powerful opportunity before us. You are a key player in a future larger than we could have imagined.   For all you have done, we want to say THANKS!

 

As we continue the process of development and negotiating contracts on our land, our goal is to pay down our debt.  As time progresses, it is our prayer that the development of this land will fund ministry and build buildings.

 

In terms of the labor involved in bringing it to fruition, the birthing of an idea into reality is similar to childbirth. As in building any structure, a solid foundation must be prepared. With development of the entire City of Hope on the drawing board, there are many aspects that must be taken into consideration. So what’s next? 

 

Developing a comprehensive plan for all 519 acres of the Brown Farm  (January – June 2010)

Having retained the planning company UDA, the City of Virginia Beach has begun the planning process in earnest. They are working on finalizing the plan for the entire area surrounding, as well as including, the Brown Farm—a total of roughly 2000 acres.  As the largest landowner in this area (known as the Princess Anne Commons), KPC will be vitally involved in this planning process. We have retained the firm of Shook Kelley to help us in the planning process. 

Please pray for us as we work through the planning process with the city. We look to the Lord for continued favor that will inspire trust and cooperation with our plans.  Our goal is to be good partners with the City of Virginia Beach, as they plan the future of the entire city.

 

 

Rezoning the Brown Farm around that plan  (July – December 2010)

Once the comprehensive plan for the Princess Anne Commons—and the Brown Farm—has been completed, we will then apply to City Council for rezoning. Currently, the Brown Farm is zoned for agricultural use, but we will apply for rezoning for various commercial, office, recreational, and non-profit uses. The rezoning, once accomplished, will dramatically affect the value of the Brown Farm.

Please pray for success as we move through the various city government offices and ultimately city council towards rezoning.  Given the strategic position and potential of the Brown Farm, we anticipate some resistance towards rezoning, but we also know that we have many friends.

 

 

Applying for the “Conditional Use Permit” for the KPC City of Hope  (July – December 2010)

The Conditional Use Permit is our building permit that allows us to begin construction.  We have already applied and received a unanimous “yes” from City Planning and are now waiting to go before City Council for final approval. We will do so at the same time we apply for rezoning for the entirety of the Brown Farm.

 

 

Negotiating contracts with paying down the debt the first priority  (July 2010 and beyond)

With the Brown Farm planned and rezoned, we will then be in a position to formally sell and lease land parcels. Do we anticipate selling off the entire farm? Of course not. The KPC City of Hope facilities will be the anchor point, and we have reserved 70 acres for ministry. Our goal is to maximize the potential in the Brown Farm to fund ministry.  Additionally, and also significant in its own right, is the positioning of businesses, recreational opportunities, office complexes, etc., to bring people right next door to our new facilities. The traffic they generate will allow us to reach still more people for Christ. 

 

 

Developing the Brown Farm with Jesus Christ as the Anchor Point

We envision development of a 21st century city built to meet the needs of generations to come. This requires environmentally-responsible construction, materials, and design. Our desire is to create a place that will benefit our city and its citizens and yet be an appropriate setting for ministry growth. 

 

With the proximity of the Brown Farm to the Sentara Hospital Complex, we will have opportunities to develop a medical office complex that could include a “green” center. This center could be a demonstration facility to model living in the 21st century and include a farmers market. Since we’re thinking of the future, how about including “charging stations” for those electric cars?

The development of a ministry village will be a significant component of the overall plan. This village would be a place for Christ-centered ministry clustered together in an atmosphere promoting service and community.
The potential for a retail and entertainment district that is wholesome and family-friendly also appears on our wish list. As part of a resort area, why couldn’t it be a place where vacationing families would be drawn to visit?

 

In the initial phase of this journey, God provided us with world-class expertise in our partner, The Legacy Group.  Comprising this group are project manager Richard Hine, President of The Hine Group; Bob Miller, President of MSA, a civil engineer; and Wayne Crosby who is handling sales and marketing. This is a unique blending of personalities and abilities, a dynamic Presbyterian church, and a real estate development company. The corporate mission statement avows that “It is with a spirit of unity . . . that  this group  will proceed . . . The guiding principle of “fairness” to the other party mandates that each party look out for the blessings and best interests of the other member.”

 

This mindset is based on Psalm 133:1, “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Our aim, alongside that of KPC Legacy, is to develop the Brown Farm with three steadfast and unwavering goals in mind:

 

	Develop the property responsibly and intelligently using faith-based principles of stewardship with the ultimate goal of converting approximately 70 acres of the tract into KPC’s visionary City of Hope campus.
	Develop the property in a spirit of good partnership, citizenship, and cooperation with the City of Virginia Beach, neighboring property owners, and other stakeholders.
	Develop the property in a responsible manner pursuing economic benefits to both partners/members while promoting uses consistent with sound development practice and not inconsistent with the goals and mission of KPC.

 

God has blessed us with a great team. We would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to thank the partners of Legacy for their unwavering spirit and dedication to this entire process. 

The possibilities are wide open. Who knows what the future holds? God does! And He has placed us here for such a time as this.