Garden plan stalled with church sale in question

When Fort Lauderdale's Flagler Garden got under way three years ago, the enterprise glowed with optimism. The spot of land donated by the First Evangelical Lutheran Church was supposed to lease plots to neighbors to grow their own food. Roughly $100,000 was raised to initiate construction of the garden.

But all that may be in limbo.

Chad Scott, president of the nonprofit Flagler Garden group, suggested that "the church could be in some financial trouble and is considering selling the land" after he spotted a 'For Sale' sign on the property.

Interim church pastor Rev. Paul Pfadenhauer said "somebody has been dispensing a lot of misinformation."

"Membership has been holding up quite well, the state of the church is high expectant, we are set for growth," he said. "These matters have not even been discussed by the congregation. The 'For Sale' sign is not on the Flagler Garden property. It's on adjacent property."

"It's my policy not to discuss clients' ongoing business," said church attorney John Stroup. "There have been some bad economic times and it is common knowledge that churches don't have the same attendance they've historically had."

Victoria King of Castelli Real Estate, the agency behind the 'For Sale' sign, said the church is not for sale. What is for sale, King said, is a fenced-in property south of the church that contains the community garden.

Scott said the 'For Sale' sign was moved recently but that construction of the garden is still on hold.

"The $100,000 is in limbo since construction is stalled until the situation is clear," he said. "We don't know what will happen. We hope to have additional information from the church council soon. If the property is sold, this might be an opportunity for the city to get more involved and help us find a space. It's in their 2035 visioning plan to have a garden in every neighborhood."

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Garden plan stalled with church sale in question