Highway 36 Statement
About the Highway 36 Interchange Project:
Our Commitment to Community, Safety and Fairness
For more than 35 years, River Valley Christian Church has been honored to serve the people of Lake Elmo and surrounding communities, sharing our faith and supporting the well-being of our neighbors. As members of this vibrant and growing area, we have always welcomed progress that benefits all, and we recognize the Highway 36 Interchange Project as an important step toward making travel safer and more accessible for everyone along this corridor.
Over recent months, we have engaged in thoughtful discussions with Washington County about the possibility of selling our property and relocating the church to a new site to accommodate the project. At every stage, our priority has been fairness: we have simply asked for compensation sufficient to cover the costs of securing a new location and constructing a new church, so that we may continue our mission and service in our community. (We have been unable to identify an existing building in the area that would meet our current needs.)
We believe this request reflects not only the realities of moving but also the deep significance of leaving a place where our congregation has gathered, celebrated, mourned, and grown together for more than three decades.
We also appreciate that there are design options for the interchange that would allow us to remain at our current location. We fully support Washington County and its project partners in examining these alternatives, and we are committed to working collaboratively toward solutions that best serve the interests of the community and preserve our church’s legacy and future.
We believe that ongoing dialogue and thoughtful planning will lead to the best possible outcome for everyone.
With faith, gratitude and hope,
River Valley Christian Church Leadership
Our Commitment to Community, Safety and Fairness
For more than 35 years, River Valley Christian Church has been honored to serve the people of Lake Elmo and surrounding communities, sharing our faith and supporting the well-being of our neighbors. As members of this vibrant and growing area, we have always welcomed progress that benefits all, and we recognize the Highway 36 Interchange Project as an important step toward making travel safer and more accessible for everyone along this corridor.
Over recent months, we have engaged in thoughtful discussions with Washington County about the possibility of selling our property and relocating the church to a new site to accommodate the project. At every stage, our priority has been fairness: we have simply asked for compensation sufficient to cover the costs of securing a new location and constructing a new church, so that we may continue our mission and service in our community. (We have been unable to identify an existing building in the area that would meet our current needs.)
We believe this request reflects not only the realities of moving but also the deep significance of leaving a place where our congregation has gathered, celebrated, mourned, and grown together for more than three decades.
We also appreciate that there are design options for the interchange that would allow us to remain at our current location. We fully support Washington County and its project partners in examining these alternatives, and we are committed to working collaboratively toward solutions that best serve the interests of the community and preserve our church’s legacy and future.
We believe that ongoing dialogue and thoughtful planning will lead to the best possible outcome for everyone.
With faith, gratitude and hope,
River Valley Christian Church Leadership