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For the last 11 years, College Church has spent $2.7 million to buy houses in a historic Wheaton neighborhood and allow them to deteriorate in order to demolish them, which they did in March of this year.

Why? So that they can build a parking lot behind the backyards of several other homes. While the neighborhood supports their need for additional handicapped/limited mobility parking and has engaged in many conversations with church representatives, they refuse to place the lot to where it does not go past extended lot lines of affected homes.

The church claims that they have compromised with neighborhood residents, when in reality they have “compromised” only to get their plan approved by the zoning board. More than 400 Wheaton residents have signed a petition against this type of institutional creep in general and this historic neighborhood in particular.

This is the second time that this church has tried to invade our neighborhood, while their footprint has increased 89% over the years and now covers three square blocks. They are also planning to increase regular parking in an adjacent lot next year. It is clear they are aspiring to become a megachurch just a few blocks from a vibrant downtown Wheaton and have little regard for the welfare of this historic area.

The neighborhood is hopeful that the city of Wheaton will not allow this parking lot to be built as currently proposed and will protect this and other historic areas from this type of institutional creep.

Bruce Kelsay, Wheaton