Our building project is approaching another major
milestone—whether or not to proceed with a Capital Fund Raising Campaign and
the next iteration of architectural design. We now have in hand a fund raising
feasibility study done by our consultant Kay Crider and preliminary cost
estimates from three builders based on our conceptual architectural design.
The bottom line: Our
building project, as outlined in the conceptual design, is feasible. We
still have work to do on refining funding sources and costs—subtracting here
and adding there—but we are encouraged by the information gathered to date.
Preliminary figures are that the costs and our fundraising ability are slightly
under $3 million.
Any project like ours is involves a process of gathering
information and making decisions. Gathering takes time, analysis, and money. At
each stage the information is more accurate, but it’s never perfect. There is a
degree of uncertainty with each decision, but at each stage our information is
more accurate.
So we have arrived at our next decision point, a
congregational meeting on November 12 to decide on whether or not to proceed
with a capital fundraising campaign and the next iteration of architectural
design (that includes city approval). In the last two weeks we have received
new information to help with this decision—the fundraising feasibility study
and builder’s cost estimates.
Barrett Studios, our architectural firm, developed a
conceptual bid package and submitted it to 6 potential builders. Three
responded with proposals that we are reviewing. The week of October 30 we will
conduct preliminary interviews with these three builders with the goal of
selecting one to work with us during the next phase of design.
Put November 12 on your calendars for our next
congregational meeting to decide on our Next Big Step.
Jim Highsmith, Co-Chair, Building Committee
Jim Highsmith, Co-Chair, Building Committee
