06/18/2026
**COMMUNITY UPDATE REGARDING THE CHRIST COVENANT CHURCH PARKING LOT**
Many members of the community have reached out with questions regarding the parking lot owned by Christ Covenant Church behind several Uptowne businesses. Following a recent meeting between church leadership and several local business owners, we felt it was important to share what was discussed and the concerns that remain.
**What We Learned**
During the meeting, church leadership explained that the installation of bollards has already been approved and will move forward. The reasons cited included concerns regarding traffic cutting through the lot, liability, and the safety of children and families utilizing church property.
Church leadership explained that children and families regularly utilize the property and expressed concerns about vehicles traveling through areas where children may be present. Church leadership indicated that improving safety for those children and families is one of the primary reasons for the proposed changes.
We also learned during the meeting that a five-year lease agreement has already been executed with Avita involving the former Galion Building & Loan property and associated parking areas. For many of the business owners present, this was the first indication that a long-term arrangement affecting a significant portion of Uptowne parking resources had already been finalized.
**The Missed Opportunity**
We want to be clear that we are pleased Avita was proactive in approaching the church regarding the use of parking resources associated with the former Galion Building & Loan property. Identifying creative solutions and building partnerships is exactly what strong organizations should do.
The ex*****on of the Avita lease agreement demonstrated that the church recognized value in its parking resources and was willing to enter into agreements involving their use.
During the meeting, church leadership indicated that the lease would provide additional income to the church. While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, it was acknowledged that the arrangement would generate revenue. It was also explained that Avita's primary use of the property would occur during normal business hours.
This raises an obvious question:
**"If they were willing to lease parking to Avita, why weren't local businesses given the same opportunity?"**
Had the opportunity been presented, many of the businesses represented at the meeting would have gladly entered into a parking agreement that included assuming responsibility for their own customers, employees, and associated liability. Such an arrangement could have addressed many of the concerns raised during the meeting while also creating an additional source of revenue for the church.
In many respects, this is very similar to what business owners would have proposed had they been made aware that parking resources were being evaluated.
The concern is not that Avita approached the church. The concern is that neighboring businesses were never informed that such opportunities existed until after both the lease agreement and the bollard project had already been finalized.
**A Difficult Point to Understand**
One point that many of the business owners found particularly difficult to understand was the suggestion that local businesses should have approached the church in advance to negotiate parking arrangements.
Despite more than a decade of operation by some of the businesses represented at the meeting, no concerns regarding customer parking, parking demand, use of the church parking lot, or future plans for leasing parking resources had ever been communicated to those businesses.
As a result, local businesses were effectively told that they should have approached the church to negotiate a solution to a problem they had never been informed existed.
**Safety Concerns**
We fully respect the church's property rights and understand the desire to create a safe environment for children, families, members, and visitors. We also understand that church leadership has concerns regarding vehicles cutting through the parking lot and the potential liability associated with increased activity on church property.
At the same time, throughout the discussion, no specific incidents involving injuries to children, members, visitors, or members of the public resulting from vehicles cutting through the lot were identified. Likewise, no examples were provided of accidents or injuries caused by excessive speed or traffic patterns within the parking lot.
Many business owners left the meeting with the understanding that the changes are being implemented in response to concerns about what could happen rather than documented incidents that have occurred.
**Public Perception**
A recurring topic throughout the meeting was the importance of public perception. We agree that perception matters.
Several attendees entered the meeting believing it would be an opportunity to discuss concerns, explore alternatives, and identify collaborative solutions. However, it became apparent during the conversation that **the installation of bollards and the Avita lease agreement had already been finalized.**
The church had already decided how it wanted to use the parking lot and had already entered into a revenue-generating agreement with Avita before neighboring businesses were invited into the conversation.
As a result, many participants left with the impression that the purpose of the meeting was primarily to inform affected stakeholders of decisions that had already been made rather than to engage in a collaborative process intended to identify potential solutions.
**Parking: Verbal Assurances vs. Public Perception**
Church leadership repeatedly stated during the meeting that the intent of these changes is not to prohibit parking by Uptowne visitors and that individuals remain welcome to utilize the parking lot while following designated traffic patterns and safety expectations.
However, this message is difficult to reconcile with signage indicating that parking is reserved for Christ Covenant Church members and requires a permit. To most customers, visitors, employees, and residents, those signs communicate that parking is not available to the general public.
During the discussion, business owners suggested signage that would clearly communicate that Uptowne visitors are still welcome to park in the lot. While this idea was discussed, it was our understanding that any such signage would need to be placed on business properties rather than on church property.
This left many of us with more questions than answers.
If parking is truly still available:
• Is it available to all Uptowne visitors?
• Will customers of neighboring businesses be allowed to park there without concern?
• Will vehicles be towed if they do not have a permit, as the signage suggests?
• Or are the signs intended primarily to discourage misuse of the lot?
These questions remain important because they directly affect how people will choose to visit Uptowne businesses.
**Questions That Remain**
The church cited safety, liability, and concerns regarding vehicles cutting through the parking lot as the primary reasons for these changes. We respect those concerns and understand the desire to create a safe environment for children, families, and visitors.
At the same time, several facts emerged during the meeting that leave important questions unanswered. No specific injuries, accidents, or documented incidents resulting from vehicles cutting through the lot were identified. The Avita lease agreement had already been finalized prior to discussions with neighboring businesses. Signage indicating that parking is reserved for church members and permit holders appears inconsistent with statements that Uptowne visitors remain welcome to park there.
Taken together, these circumstances leave many community members wondering whether there were opportunities to address safety concerns while also preserving parking access, supporting neighboring businesses, and generating revenue for the church through collaborative solutions.
Several business owners also questioned whether the proposed solution appropriately reflects how the property is actually utilized throughout the week. While concerns were raised regarding children and families utilizing the property during church activities, many noted that the lot often sits largely unused outside of services, events, and scheduled church functions.
For that reason, some attendees questioned whether there were opportunities to create a shared-use arrangement that protected children and families during church activities while continuing to support businesses, employees, customers, and visitors during periods when the lot would otherwise remain largely vacant.
That is why many of the questions raised during the meeting remain unresolved.
**Perception Drives Behavior**
Most people will never hear what was said during that meeting. They will simply see the barriers and signs and make a decision based on what they see.
If people see signs stating that parking is reserved for church members and requires a permit, many will reasonably assume they are not welcome to park there and will choose to park elsewhere or not visit at all.
Whether that is the intended message or not, it is likely to be the message many people receive.
**Parking Guidance for Our Customers**
Until additional clarification is provided regarding how the parking lot will be managed, enforced, and made available to Uptowne visitors, we are encouraging our customers to utilize the limited parking available behind our business, nearby public street parking, and other clearly designated public parking areas whenever possible.
This recommendation is not intended as a criticism of the church or its policies. Rather, it reflects the uncertainty that remains following the meeting regarding permit requirements, enforcement practices, and whether visitors to neighboring businesses may continue to utilize the church parking lot without concern.
We look forward to receiving additional clarification so that we can provide accurate guidance to our customers, employees, and visitors.
**Moving Forward**
We respect Christ Covenant Church's property rights. We respect their concerns regarding safety. We respect their desire to protect children and families.
We simply believe there may have been an opportunity to work together before these decisions were finalized—an opportunity that could have addressed safety concerns, liability concerns, parking needs, and revenue opportunities while strengthening relationships throughout Uptowne Galion.
Our goal is not conflict. Our goal is clarity, collaboration, and ensuring that Uptowne Galion remains accessible and welcoming for residents, visitors, businesses, and community organizations alike.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out and shared their thoughts and concerns.
