MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A downtown Minneapolis church is growing and the expansion will include affordable housing.

Westminster Presbyterian on Nicollet Mall and 12th Street bought the office building next door.

They’ll use the extra space to expand their ministry and create new and affordable housing for a growing downtown.

“The downtown 2025 plan calls for a doubling of residential population in downtown Minneapolis, from 35,000 to 70,000 over the next 15 years, and we want to be positioned to welcome those people into the life of our congregation,” said senior pastor Tim Hart-Andersen.

Andersen said Westminster was able to the buy the building with generous support from the Mortenson family.