Story posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Asian Parish Likes MP As Centralized Location
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
Leaders of Des Plaines-based Dasom Community Church, 766 Graceland Ave., are looking to move their worship space to Central Road in Mt. Prospect next to the village's Public Works facility.
David Lee, president of the church and community center, said the congregation likes what it sees in the Mt. Prospect site, 1750 W. Central Rd., as more of a centralized location for the Asian community.
"We want to open an Asian community center and where we want to move is right in the middle of Arlington Hts. Des Plaines and Mt. Prospect," said Lee. "Many Asians live in Mt. Prospect."
Lee said approximately 120 people are currently members of the church and he expects to see that number grow. Lee and his staff are seeking to occupy a 30,000 sq. ft. building that became vacant 3-4 years ago after Hinz Lithographing Co. closed, according to Bill Cooney, director of Community Development for the Village of Mt. Prospect.
Cooney said the church would provide social and educational services.
"The building has been gutted out so they have a fair amount of work to do," said Cooney. "They probably wouldn't open until the end of the year."
Work will include improving the front of the building, including a new entrance and landscape improvements.
Lee said there are five employees at the Des Plaines location and he intends to transfer them to the new location in addition to hiring a few more individuals. Dasom has been in Des Plaines for five years, he said. Lee said they rent the Graceland Avenue space, also home to First Congregational Church, on a month-to-month basis.
Plans are expected to be presented to the Mt. Prospect Planning and Zoning Commission tomorrow (Thursday). If approved, Cooney said plans are tentatively scheduled to be presented to the village board for final approval on Tuesday, July 7.
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