Catholics plan $9.5M community in Post Falls

POST FALLS — A Catholic church is planning to build a 28,000-square-foot, $9.5 million parish community in Post Falls.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 773 N. 11th St. in Coeur d'Alene, plans to construct the new complex at 4772 E. Poleline Ave.

"If possible, we would like to start construction this year," Father Dennis Gordon said. "The project will place an architecturally stunning, Romanesque-style church on the property with the additional buildings arranged in a style reminiscent of a European monastery layout.

"Several classrooms and a large social hall, in addition to meeting rooms/offices, will complement the parish life well."

The first of two phases, estimated to cost about $4.5 million including site preparation, will include the parish hall, classrooms, meeting rooms and offices and be about 18,000 square feet.

The $5 million, 10,000-square-foot second phase will be the church itself.

"The parish hall will serve as our church until Phase II can be completed," Gordon said. "Right now we are focusing on the completion of Phase I."

Gordon said with more than 600 people attending its four Sunday services, the church has outgrown its current facility, where it has been meeting for about 10 years.

"(Growth) is a good problem to have," he said.

The church describes itself as a traditional Latin Mass parish in the Diocese of Boise.

"Many people are interested in the ancient form of worship that we offer at St. Joan of Arc parish, and the Diocese of Boise is graciously accommodating those who have this interest," Gordon said. "We have an active youth group and men’s and women’s groups, and the new facility will give us good meeting space."

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise is listed as the property owner of the 9.2-acre parcel. Gordon said the central location is optimal.

"If you were to drop a pin on the geographical center of where our parishioners live, it would land very close to our property," he said. "Post Falls is also a beautiful setting for a parish community.

"We are a small community church, like many other such communities in the area, and we are prayerfully relying on God’s providence to keep the funding of this project going."

Gordon said the specific start and completion dates will depend on when permits are granted by the city and the city's review of the plans.

The Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 6 p.m. on the church's request for a special-use permit to construct the project in a residential zone, allow the crest height of the building to exceed 35 feet and the bell tower height to be constructed at 100 feet.