Church To Continue Renting Schaefer Center

A local church will continue to use the Schaefer Center for the next year.

On Friday, the Toccoa Downtown Development Authority unanimously approved a lease for Crosstown Church to use the Schaefer Center for 2017.

DDA members had tabled the matter previously at their last meeting on August 12.

Toccoa DDA Chair Clint Sanders said that some of the DDA members met with church representatives after that to discuss.

“We went over a few things, mainly clarification on some things and we feel pretty good about continuing the reservation arrangement for 2017,” said Sanders.

Church representatives were on hand Friday for the meeting.

Lead pastor Jody Garrison said that the church appreciates how the city has welcomed them into the community.

He said they are working towards finding a long-term location.

“Since Day One, we have been trying to find our own location,” said Garrison. “We have to have time, we have to have finances, to build a core membership, and to show ourselves that we are here to stay.”

According to Toccoa Downtown Development Director Connie Tabor, Crosstown Church pays $300 a day to rent the Schaefer Center, which is the same amount as anyone else would pay for the facility.

Tabor said the church has been a good tenant since beginning use of the facility.