Fort Collins Unitarian Church Advances $8.2 Million Expansion Plan with C-PACE Financing (Fort Collins, Colorado)

A Fort Collins Unitarian Universalist church has taken a significant step toward expanding its facilities, moving forward with an $8.2 million project supported by a state clean-energy financing program. The Foothills Unitarian Church, located at 1815 Yorktown Ave., authorized the next phase of its expansion plan with just two dissenting votes during a congregational meeting. The decision included approving Golden-based Ewers Architecture PC to finalize the design for the project’s first phase and authorizing the church’s board of trustees to secure $1.2 million through the Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program.

C-PACE allows eligible commercial and industrial building owners to finance up to 100% of energy-efficiency, renewable-energy, and water-conservation improvements. The program offers competitive rates and repayment terms up to 25 years, enabling the church to access private capital for sustainable construction. A final vote to begin construction will occur at the church’s annual meeting on May 31. The church’s capital campaign workbook projects groundbreaking this fall, with occupancy of the new sanctuary expected by December 2021.

Lakewood-based Pinkard Construction, which has an office in Fort Collins and has previously worked on projects such as the Northside Aztlan Community Center and several Colorado State University buildings, has been retained as the general contractor. Despite concerns over recent financial market fluctuations, the Rev. Gretchen Haley, Foothills’ senior minister, expressed optimism about the congregation’s support for the expansion. “It was very exciting to see the way people continued to be very positive about it,” Haley said.

Haley noted that the church has about 600 adult members, 250 to 300 “friends” who often attend, and approximately 250 children in religious-education programs. Around 450 individuals have committed to making regular pledges. The church currently holds three Sunday services in its 160-seat sanctuary, often requiring additional chairs in the social room to accommodate overflow. Summer services are typically reduced, a pattern common for Unitarian congregations in areas with large college populations.

Phase 1 of the expansion will include a new 400-seat sanctuary and a lower-level 100-seat chapel. Once the new sanctuary is completed, the existing one will be converted into a larger social hall with “garage-door” openings to an outdoor patio offering mountain views. “Phase 2 will likely include building out the main administration wing, more offices, RE building renovation and the like,” said board president Sara Steen. The project reflects the congregation’s commitment to growth, community engagement, and sustainable practices.

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