A Charlotte church with bilingual services looks to Mint Hill for a permanent home

Casa de Avivamiento, a bilingual Spanish and English church with roots in the Charlotte area, wants to establish a home in Mint Hill, but it has to get approval for traffic-related improvements first.

Pastor Andres Hernandez submitted a project application town officials for the church, which means “House of Revival” in English. His wife, Pastor Kalena Hernandez, is also looking forward to the move. The goal is to build a 16,000-square-foot building for 400 people. The vacant property at 8235 Bartlett Road is east of Interstate 485, on 13.6 acres.

Planning documents did not indicate the cost of the project. According to online real estate listings, the value of the property is $650,000.

“The fact that we’re a bilingual church has helped with first-generation and second-generation Spanish speaking families,” she said about services provided in two languages. “It kind of build a bridge to keep both groups together and worship together.”

At a public hearing in September, Mint Hill commissioners sought additional information about a left turning lane, which was not part of the preliminary site plan.

Along with 160 parking spaces and the main building, there are also plans for additional buildings on the property.

About the church and what comes next

Established in 2014, Casa de Avivamiento will be celebrating a decade of providing service to Latino and bilingual communities in the Charlotte area next year. More than 200 people worship there, with families representing the U.S. and countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

“We’re extremely grateful for the past 10 years for being able to share the gospel and getting to know people in the community here in Charlotte,” Kalena Hernandez said.

The church is currently sharing space at 2200 Coronation Blvd. in Charlotte with Fathers House, a bilingual Russian and Ukrainian congregation.

The Isaacs Group, civil engineering design and surveyors, is working with Casa de Avivamiento on the turning lane addition and making sure it can fit since it’s close to the I-485 bridge.

John Hoard, Mint Hill’s planning director, has been communicating with the surveyors. He said they want to make sure the spacing of the left turning lane doesn’t impact the bridge.

“There’s really no room to add any lanes on the bridge or anything like that,” Hoard said.

A public hearing on the issue is set for Nov. 9, according to the town’s meeting schedule for commissioners. Before they gather, the planning board will discuss the church’s request on Oct. 16.

A decision on the project is expected in November or December.

“We’re excited about what God has planned for the future for the church,” Hernandez said.