Bigger than us

Lease vs. Build

Since 2013 we have been working alongside the City of Surrey looking at various options, initially searching for an existing structure that could be leased and/or bought and renovated. As we continued to grow, we eclipsed zoning allowances which ultimately resulted in the search for land. A thorough Lease vs. Build Analysis was conducted that led us to the decision to build. A summary of some of the highlights follow.

Lease

Weaknesses

unavailability of suitable space for our unique needs and size
lease costs are more expensive over the long term
vulnerability to potential intolerance from government-controlled buildings
unavailability of an alternative venue similar to Bell Preforming Arts Centre
vulnerability to short 3-6 month cancellation clauses
inability to hold regular weeknight events
unpredictable rates and rising costs
current ministry centre cannot take advantage of tax breaks as primary gathering space (currently $75,000 annually)
high costs of mobile infrastructure and technology
zero equity appreciation

Strengths

less up front capital
no responsibility of ownership and maintenance
ability to move or change quickly
in the event of a catastrophic failure, only lease costs are paid out

Build

Weaknesses

high up front costs
maintenance costs/responsibility
catastrophic failure may require selling the asset

Strengths

the better financial decision when considering the costs over the long term
an intact investment with appreciating land value
a building specifically designed for our needs
the ability to capture video content in a controlled environment which is mission-critical for our church
we would own and control the venue
a new facility attracts more people and thus a larger financial base to fund it
a potential mortgage payment (if necessary) would be less than or equal to what we presently pay in rental costs (assuming the land is owned)
better use of staff resources and equipment than a mobile infrastructure
take advantage of significant tax savings
opportunities to engage the community for concerts, graduations, and other rentals

The Build Decision

When we analyze how much of the Build project requires financing, we see the obvious savings when less financing is required. In all cases, the Build scenario is more favourable than a Lease scenario. This is primarily due to the land value and the appreciation of it (which has already risen significantly). Note: the costs in the analysis only applies to replacing the rentals associated with the Surrey location (Bell), current Ministry Centre, and weekly program rentals in other venues. Rental costs associated with all other sites continue on as is.

The analysis exposed three key factors that favour a “Build” over “Lease” decision:

The high level of vulnerability in relying on a Lease solution from public and government facilities given 6-month cancelation clauses as well as growing intolerance;
The lack of suitable options to lease that fit our needs, even when considering a multi-building/locations solution, and
The financial analysis showing cost savings of a Build solution over both 20 and 30-year scenarios.

The precarious position we are in now demands a more secure solution within the next 3-5 years.

We are excited about this stable and permanent Ministry Centre in which ministry will be done on a daily basis. A 3-storey building that includes an auditorium with 1,200-1,300 seats to accommodate many events including weekend services. It will be used for our Canada-wide operations - reaching out to the city, region and nation with the transforming power of the gospel. It also includes developing leaders, holding conferences/classes, mid-week kids/youth/young adult programs, counselling, local mission, and our School of Ministry.