The Judevine Center for Autism has moved from its Byrnes Mill location to a temporary one in Herculaneum while it looks for a building in Barnhart to make its home.
In addition, a St. Louis County church is moving into the Judevine’s former location at 4400 Kennerly Park Road in Byrnes Mill.
Carrie Williams, director of the Judevine Center in Jefferson County, which helps people with autism, said the center opened its door at 1185 Scenic Drive, Suite 145, in Herculaneum on July 26.
Williams said that’s just a temporary stop, though, because Judevine is looking for a place in Barnhart to move to.
“We are trying to get a building in Barnhart that we are going to buy and then refurbish,” she said.
Williams said the center hopes to find a place close to I-55.
“That way it would be easier for consumers to find us, and it would be easier for staff to get in and out during bad weather,” she said. “Just overall, it would just put us in an easier location.”
Williams said the Byrnes Mill location could only be accessed from one side of Hwy. 30.
“You had to loop around depending on which direction you were coming from and then we were back up off the road so people couldn’t see us directly from the road,” she said.
Williams said Judevine was renting the Byrnes Mill building, and the owner sold before the center could find a new permanent location.
Plans for the Judevine facility in Barnhart call for classrooms.
“We’re hoping to maybe have a workout activity area, as well as an outside activity area,” Williams said.
The Herculaneum Board of Aldermen voted 5-0 July 19 to approve a business license for the temporary Judevine Center. Ward 3 Alderman Joe Burke was absent from the meeting.
Williams said the center is hiring people to work at the facility.
Spirit Word Church
Spirit Word Church is moving from 4849 S. Lindbergh Blvd. in Sappington to the old Judevine location in Byrnes Mill, with plans to hold its first service there in September, said Pastor Tim Notz of Pevely.
He said the Christian church purchased the building.
“We’ve been looking for a larger building,” Notz said.
Before the Judevine Center used the building, another church had been housed there, he said
“We are currently remodeling, refreshing the building,” he said. “New flooring and paint.”
Notz said the church, which has been open for two years, has about 90 people in its congregation.
“We use three words to describe our mission – heal, grow and rise,” he said. “From the very beginning, we believe that God has spoken to my wife (Tina Notz) and me, that we’re there to help people really move into this place of healing and to be able to reach people with a life-giving message of Jesus Christ.”
Once the church is open, services will be held at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
The Byrnes Mill Board of Alderpersons voted 5-0 July 21 to approve a business license for the church. Ward 1 Alderperson Glenn LaVenture was not at the meeting.