CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The long-awaited reconstruction of the Ridge Street Salvation Army is heading to the Charlottesville Planning Commission on Tuesday, July 11.

This expansion will allow them to have more room to help more people.

"Soup, soap and salvation. That's what's going on here at the Salvation Army on Ridge Street,” said Mark Van Meter, captain of the Salvation Army in Charlottesville.

Van Meter has only lived in Charlottesville for less than a month and is already working on getting a massive project approved.

This expansion is a $22 million effort to build upon what already exists, making the building four stories tall. That would give them twice the amount of emergency shelter beds.

"So, the new shelter is basically going to double occupancy. There will be approximately 50 to 60 beds for men and 50 to 60 beds for females. There will be space for LGBTQ as well, and we are including all facets of our community in that project,” Van Meter said.

The current shelter is roughly 40 years old and is at max capacity. They have to turn down people frequently because they don’t have space. However, this new building would give them seven transitional apartments, shelter space for over 100 people, new administrative offices, extra kitchen space and a store.

They're also expanding their soup kitchen from 80 to 120 seats.

The goal is to break ground next summer and the new Salvation Army building will have a fresh and modern look.