It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…… oh, sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Here’s information all well-informed members should have. Pass it along, let your friends know, mention it in your meetings, whatever. And be sure to tell them that all the information about the project, including the drawings we debuted last night, is on our website (For Members, Campus Development).
We have two construction projects in the works right now, one more or less immediate, the other in the early planning stages:
IMMEDIATE: Cover the Drainage Ditch Project –> This project will be completed by June 2014. The Metropolitan Sewer District of Buncombe County is replacing sewers around our campus and we expect to piggyback onto that project with one of our own. We will be piping and covering the open drainage ditch that runs parallel to Bond Street behind Jefferson House. The $85,000 or so that this will cost has already been set aside; no fundraising is necessary. For more information, head to our website and click on the For Members tab and select Campus Development.
EARLY PLANNING STAGES: The Welcome Project –> We need a sign that uses our actual name and that people can read from the road. We need new window well retaining walls. We need to make our space welcoming to all, perhaps especially to those who have mobility issues. We need better lighting and lighting controls in the Sanctuary. These issues and a few others are addressed in the proposed Welcome Project. We are showing 3-D drawings of the basic ideas and soliciting feedback right now. The very preliminary cost for this project is $750,000 and will be funded by a capital campaign if the congregation wishes to pursue it. For more information, visit our website and click on the For Members tab and select Campus Development.
Send your thoughts, comments, suggestions to me or any member of the Campus Development Committee: Bill Agrella, Shel Altschul, Sonya Friedrich, Larry Holt, John Martin, Jerry McLellan, Bob Roepnack, Jim Samsel and Elizabeth Schell. Contact information for all members and friends is available through MY INFO.
I don’t understand the reasoning for replacing 4 rows of pews with 4 rows of folding chairs. I’m not saying it’s not a good idea, I just don’t understand what it would accomplish. Squaring off the entry way on Charlotte Street would create more interior space (there could still be a door if one is needed), but perhaps that would be prohibitively expensive. In general, the new plans look great and would definitely make an impressive statement!
This is important information for everyone, not just leaders, but I believe some of it has been in publications. I need to see the plans but are you dealing with the new orchestra/choir seating with the changes and are technology improvements priorities? The positioning of the pulpit for the “choir section” is important and a major improvement in technology could help the congregation read hymns and songs without holding books (Atlanta UUCA) and could bring the service to outlying communities. My concern about the plan as I know it is that it is short-range, not long-range.
Everything included in this project is designed to meet needs we recognize as important and necessary NOW without affecting any parts of the building that could be changed in response to the next strategic plan or campus development plan.
We’re suggesting replacing 2 rows of pews with 2 rows of chairs (not likely to be “folding”). This should increase flexibility when more floor space might be needed (concert? play?). There are a variety of reasons why we might want to use more floor space, and having movable chairs instead of fixed pews might be helpful. Obviously, it would make wheelchair positioning more flexible, too.