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A six-year search for a new home for a private, Lake Oswego-based high school culminated in an agreement that dovetails with the vision of a metro-area church.

Westside Christian High School recently signed a purchase agreement for the City Bible Church campus in Tigard. A leaseback arrangement will let both the high school and church operate out of the building. Each group is excited about the partnership; however, financial challenges lie ahead.

鈥淲e are fundraising in a difficult economic environment,鈥� said Andy Sears, Westside Christian’s principal. 鈥淏ut we are seeing people in our community and beyond that are interested and excited about the project.鈥�

The planned budget for purchasing the property, remodeling the existing building and adding to the campus is approximately $15 million, although Sears said the school is in the early stages of its capital campaign and planning process.

A weak economy may make fundraising difficult, but it also can be a boon for project owners, according to Brent Parry, principal in charge for , the general contractor for the remodel and addition.

鈥淚t’s a great time to be building because you can take advantage of very good climate for pricing,鈥� Parry said. 鈥淢ost nonprofits are really challenged with fundraising right now, though 鈥� it takes some value decisions and creative funding.鈥�

Westside Christian administrators had considered building a new school on a greenfield, or on a former agricultural site in Tigard, but they jumped on the opportunity to buy the City Bible Church campus in part because the leaseback agreement will provide an immediate revenue stream.

鈥淚t is just a good, symbiotic relationship where we have the ability to leverage an asset together,鈥� Sears said.

The church will use the space primarily on weekends and the school will use it during the week, so the property will be put to better use, according to Sears.

Bremik Construction will add classrooms for Westside’s 250 students, along with a media space, a gymnasium, new athletic fields, and locker and fitness facilities. The building originally was a General Motors training facility with common restrooms, classrooms and a cafeteria, so the layout also works well as a school, according to Parry. The facility will receive a seismic upgrade and a general remodel.

鈥淲e spent months talking and came up with a deal that works really well for both of us,鈥� said Robert Jameson, a church administrator. 鈥淲e are like-minded organizations, though, so we have similar visions and missions to accomplish.鈥�

Until they found each other, each group struggled to find a compatible partner.

鈥淚t’s been a challenge to find a site that is the size and location that would work, given our demographic,鈥� Sears said. 鈥淭here aren’t a lot of large, affordable parcels of land in that region.鈥�

City Bible Church since 2003 had tried to sell 3.5 acres of land; the building itself was not on the market initially. So when Westside Christian expressed interest not only in the land, but in purchasing and improving the entire church property, Jameson said it seemed like the perfect opportunity to reduce the church’s debt, lower its operating costs and improve its services all at once.

One downside for City Bible Church is that construction is expected to last about eight months, from February until September, and could disrupt activities.

鈥淭here will be challenges we’ll have to work through during the construction period,鈥� Jameson said. 鈥淏ut this partnership allows us to grow at that location, which is good because we’ve been growing since we moved there.鈥�

And even though the school is still working to raise money for this project, it has plans for a new auditorium in the future.

鈥淲e have聽council and volunteer leadership giving us a high level of confidence going forward,鈥� Sears said.