BUILDING NEWS [updated Sept 3!]Update, September 3, 2010
Dale Matthews has taken on the role of Facilities chair. Dale has been involved in construction and maintenance of construction equipment most of his working life. He was a maintenance officer in the army, directing preventive maintenance in peacetime and for three years in Viet Nam. Dale was also a site supervisor on the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line in Greenland. With the help of his brother, Dale has built a house. In addition to this experience Dale brings a lot of enthusiasm to the position.
The deadline for Mr. Emerson to clear his contingencies was last Tuesday, August 31st and while we have received communication from him through his real estate agent his plans are still not clear. We have offered to grant an additional 30-day extension for $10,000 which would not be credited to the purchasae price of our property. We are continuing to hold discussions with the 2nd interested party and now a 3rd party has reached out to us as well. This 3rd party had indicated he would like to submit an offer right away but as of Thursday we had not yet received it. We will continue to keep you informed of any change.
Update, August 27, 2010
The Board of Trustees is in negotiation with the owner of the building called Church on Fire. We expect to have an agreement for the congregation to vote on at our meeting on Sunday. That meeting will be held at Church on Fire at 1:00 Sunday afternoon. Our service on Sunday will also be held there starting at 11:00 AM. If you haven’t yet toured the church, please come early for the service to take a look around. The church is located near Jacolyn Park at 4980 Gordon Avenue NW. Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in Jacolyn Park in between the service and the meeting.
The buyer for our building has until next Tuesday to remove the contingencies on his offer. However, we expect to have a firm answer in time for our vote on Sunday about whether he plans to proceed to closing.
Update, August 24, 2010
Download the file below to read feedback about the Church on Fire building from the Facilities and Religious Education Committees.
Facilities Update, August 19, 2010
We will all have an opportunity to tour the church that is for sale at 4980 Gordon Avenue Northwest next Monday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. The Board is gathering input and preparing to begin negotiation with the building’s owner. We hope to have an agreement to buy the building for the congregation to vote on at the August 29th congregational meeting. Any agreement the Board works out will be contingent on the sale of our current building being completed and on a favorable vote of the congregation. We expect to know by the day of our congregational meeting that our buyer is prepared to close on our agreement.
The service and congregational meeting on August 29th will be held at the Gordon Avenue church. You are invited to bring a picnic lunch for your family to enjoy in the church or in Jacolyn Park which is less than a block from the church. The service will be at 11:00 AM as usual and the congregational meeting will begin at 1:00 PM. You should have received a notice of the congregational meeting along with details about the picnic location in a recent mailing. If you have additional questions or did not receive the mailing please call Board President Heather Dee (560-3875), President-Elect Jan Federer (362-6936) or Facilities chair Mary Huneke (550-4930).
Mary Huneke, Chair
Facilities Committee
Facilities Update, August 12, 2010
A church has come onto the market that the Board believes is worth considering. It is located at 4980 Gordon Avenue Northwest. Members of the Board and the Religious Education and Facilities committees toured the church Wednesday evening. It has 14,400 square feet on two levels. The sanctuary will seat 250-280. There is a room with a small kitchen on the Sanctuary floor for fellowship, coffee and snacks. Downstairs are a nursery, full kitchen, adult education/forum-type space, and a number of rooms that would work for R.E. classrooms or other purposes. The parking lot has a number of parking spaces for persons in wheelchairs, a ramp into the church from outside, and a lift and ramps inside that make the building accessible to those with limited mobility.
The asking price is $638,000. The congregation will have a chance to tour the church, which is now called "Church on Fire" before our congregational meeting on August 29th. That Sunday's service and the congregational meeting will be held at Church on Fire, with a picnic lunch in Jacolyn Park in between the service and the meeting. The congregation will have the opportunity to tour the church before the day of the meeting.
Meanwhile the owners of Fin and Feather are standing firm on their price of $1.2 million dollars while we have offered $950,000. Negotiations are at a cordial standstill. The Board will discuss our next steps at this evening's monthly meeting which will begin with Open Forum at 6:30 in the Andre Room.
Mary Huneke, Chair
Facilities committee
Facilities Update, July 29, 2010
The owners of the former Fin and Feather building are considering our response to their counteroffer. We have not had any kind of response yet. We are still far apart on price. The congregation will have the chance to vote on the terms of any agreement if one is reached. That vote will take place at the congregational meeting on Sunday, August 29th immediately following the service. If the congregation votes to reject the agreement on the Fin and Feather property the Board will ask the congregation to set a maximum price to guide us as we continue to look for a new location. In the meantime we are continuing to look at other property for sale.
Facilities Update, July 23, 2010
As we announced last week, the Board made an offer on the former Fin & Feather building. We do not believe the congregation would accept the terms of the counter offer we have received so we will continue to negotiate for at least one more round. We will meet as soon as we can assemble a quorum to discuss a counter offer. The buyer of our property continues to work on removing the contingencies to that sale. He was given an extension until August 31st.
Facilities Update, July 17, 2010
The Board has voted to make an offer on the former Fin and Feather property located at 3338 Center Point Rd. NE. The amount of the offer is being kept confidential until negotiations with the property owner can be completed. The offer is contingent on the successful sale of our property and on a vote of the congregation. Archiprop L.C., the developer who is in the process of buying our property, asked for an extension on removing the contingencies on his offer. After discussion with the President Elect and Facilities chair, I agreed to an extension until August 31st. During this time we are free to market our property and entertain offers. If we receive another offer during this time and want to accept it, Archiprop L C. will be notified and will have to immediately remove the contingencies and proceed to closing. There is interest from another developer.
In order to successfully complete the purchase of a new building the congregation will have to clear several hurdles:
- Conduct an Annual Pledge Drive for 2011 that raises substantially more in pledge income than was pledged for 2010. This additional income will be required to cover the monthly payment on a loan for the purchase of the building. The amount that will be needed will depend on the final terms of the agreement to buy. The Pledge Drive will take place in October.
- Conduct a successful capital campaign that raises $100,000 to $140,000 in cash up front and a total of at least $450,000 to be paid by donors over the next three years. Under this plan we would own our new building by the end of 2014. The capital campaign will be conducted in September through November, concurrent with the annual pledge drive.
- Finish 2010 in the black. Currently pledge income is reasonably on track. We are halfway through the year and more than 60% of our pledgers have donated at least half of the amount pledged during last year’s campaign.
A steering committee will be formed immediately to coordinate both the fund raising efforts of the Capital Campaign Committee, and the work of the Facilities committee in carrying out the logistics of the move. A leader for this steering committee will be selected this weekend from among congregation members not currently on the Board. The selection will be made by Rev. Tom, Kevin Eck who is chair of the nominating committee, and me. If you are interested in serving on this steering committee, please contact one of those three people.
Three volunteers have already stepped forward to work on the Tag Sale to be held this fall to raise money by selling items that we don’t want to move but that still have value. Watch for further details. If you would also like to help, talk to Mary Huneke or send her an e-mail at mary.huneke@gmail.com.
Heather Dee, President
PCUU Board of Trustees
Facilities Update, July 14, 2010
The Board has been told by our real estate agent, Mary Oakley, that the owner of the former Fin and Feather building has an opportunity to lease the building to someone else. She has advised us to consider making a move to show we are seriously interested in buying the building. At our meeting on July 15th, the Board will consider making an offer to buy the property located at 3338 Center Point Rd. NE, known as the Fin & Feather building.The Finance committee has developed a recommendation for the capital campaign and will present it at the meeting as well. Any offer would be made contingent on the approval of a majority of congregation members.
A Tag Sale will be held this fall to raise money by selling items that we don’t want to move but that still have value. Watch for further details. If you would like to help organize this sale please talk to me or send me an e-mail at mary.huneke@gmail.com.
Melissa Trumpold, head of the salvage committee, has made contact with businesses that may be interested in buying some of the architectural features of our current building. The salvage team is also looking into the cost and logistics of salvaging the stained glass windows. Specific plans will depend a great deal on where our new home will be and whether it is permanent or temporary. The salvage team is currently focused on making contacts and gathering preliminary information.
The idea of leasing space in the building owned by the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation has been dropped because there was so little support for signing the three-year lease that would be required. Jan Federer continues to keep abreast of possible other buildings that are for sale and I am continuing to look at spaces for lease if we need temporary space. However, at this point most interest appears to be centered on the former Fin and Feather location.
Mary Huneke
Facilities Committee Chair
Facilities Update June 10, 2010
Facilities Committee Update from committee chair Mary Huneke
As I mentioned last week in the first of these weekly updates, the Facilities committee is working to maintain our current facility while exploring reasonable options for after we close on the sale of our property. Here is what has been going on during the past week:
- I sat in on a meeting of the Finance committee on Tuesday evening. The committee held a conference call with Wayne B. Clark who is director of Congregational Stewardship Services for the UUA. Dr. Clark had been provided background information about Peoples’ finance and stewardship situation. He offered advice based on his experience with stewardship and capital campaigns. Dr. Clark strongly urged us to work to create positive cash flow in our operating finances, implement a planned giving program, and balance out our giving levels PRIOR to beginning a capital campaign. Board President, Heather Dee, sat in on the conference call as well. The Board will discuss Dr. Clark’s recommendations at this evening’s meeting which begins with Open Forum at 6:30 in the Andre Room. The Facilities committee will meet immediately prior to the Board meeting at 5:30 in the Andre Room.
- Our realtor has shown Rev. Tom and me office space for lease in a downtown building owned by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The space provides offices and rooms for R.E. classes, as well as a small kitchenette in the space we would occupy fulltime. We would meet for services and other congregation-wide events in the community room which is on the ground floor. The office area is 3500 square feet and is divided into offices with a large open space in the middle. We have also looked at the property offered for sale by New Covenant Bible Church.
- Melissa Trumpold has agreed to head the salvage taskforce. Bryan Davis has also joined the taskforce which also includes Noel Rozum and Steve Hershner. Bill Kilbourn may also join this effort.
- Kevin Eck is setting up an online sign-up system for members willing to mow the grass each week. Keep a watch on the website for your opportunity to sign up to mow during the week most convenient for you.
As noted last week, this is a very fluid situation. We are operating on the assumption that we will close on the sale in August, but we won’t know for sure until the ink has dried on the documents. Meanwhile we will keep the congregation informed about solid developments. If you have a question please e-mail me at mary.huneke@gmail.com.
Facilities Update, June 3, 2010
The Facilities committee is working steadily to maintain the current church, find options for purchase, find options for long-term lease, prepare for a move and have a back-up option if we find ourselves needing a place to meet for only a few months. We are also exploring the option of building a Morton-type building. We will work closely with the Finance committee to know what we can afford and how each option might be financed. The congregation will have the ultimate say about what option is chosen. I will be providing weekly updates of our progress in the Voice, weekly e-blast and on our website. This is the first of those updates. Critical information will also be announced from the pulpit on Sunday mornings and through mailings.
Taskforces are exploring each of several options.
Move to an existing facility currently on the market
Jan Federer is working with our realtor Mary Oakley and an active search is under way. Jan, Rev. Tom and various other members have toured several properties that are on the market in our estimated price range of roughly $1,000,000. The Fin and Feather building is one candidate being considered. We will be meeting there for our service this coming Sunday morning. Bring your own chair and maybe an extra if you have one.
Lease space for a year or more while we look for existing facilities or prepare to build
I am looking at options available and will be working in close consultation with Rev. Tom and the staff, and with the Finance committee.
Build a Morton-type building
L. Dale Matthews has detailed knowledge of how this type of option works. We will get a rough estimate of what it would cost to put up a building that would meet our needs as outlined by the Next Step Team. Again, we will be working closely with the Finance committee.
Salvage
A taskforce is contacting firms that salvage architectural features for resale to find out what we might be able to sell in order to generate some revenue to offset the cost of salvaging the features the congregation wants to keep. Board President Heather Dee may be able to find a new home for the boiler through her contacts at Alliant.
There will almost certainly be more items that at least some people want to keep than we can afford to salvage and store until they can be incorporated into a new church home. We will have a much better feel for this when we have information about what we can sell and how much it would cost to salvage and store the Rose window and other high priority items. Clearly, what we salvage for our own use will depend a lot on which option is ultimately chosen and on the results of the capitol campaign.
Back-up Plan
The Scottish Rite facility remains an option for services and RE. We would be looking for office space to lease in addition our once-a-week use of Scottish Rite. I will also look for office space that would work under this option.
Sorting through our current possessions
Several members and groups have been asked to take responsibility for specific areas, such as the kitchen and R.E. spaces. More people will be needed as we get closer to an actual move.
How do we decide on an option and who decides?
It is the responsibility of the Facilities committee to thoroughly explore all reasonable options. We will gather sufficient information so the congregation can make apples-to-apples comparisons of the various attractive alternatives. These comparisons will include the financial aspects. The Board will lead the congregation to an actual decision when that time comes.
Timeline
If this plays out as it is currently set up, our buyer, Mr. Emerson, will have until mid-July to arrange financing and to also arrange to buy the other properties on our block that he needs. At that time he is to provide us with written notice removing the contingencies. Thirty days after that, mid-August, we would close. At that point PCUU would receive the proceeds of the sale, just over $653,000. We are expected to have vacated the building by mid November; however I would hope to be doing the moving while the weather is still fall-like.
This deal could still fall through. Mr. Emerson may not be able to remove the contingencies on the agreement within 60 days. If he does notify us in writing that the contingencies have been removed, he may still walk away from the deal before closing. Under that scenario we would keep $7,500 earnest money. Mary Oakley would resume actively looking for another buyer. We would stay in the current church facility and keep on keeping on while the process of finding a buyer starts again. [For those of you under age 50, ‘keep on keeping on’ is a Boomer expression.]
This will be a very fluid situation. Things may also move fast or come to a complete halt. While the Facilities committee members are working on our responsibilities the Finance committee will be working on a capitol campaign and will also stay on top of current finances. Through these weekly updates we will keep the congregation abreast of solid developments. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or if you want to volunteer to help in a specific area please e-mail me at mary.huneke@gmail.com.
There are a number of critical decisions and a lot of work ahead for the entire congregation. The 2010-2011 Board meets for the first time on Thursday, June 10th beginning with Open Forum at 6:30 PM.
Mary Huneke
Facilities Committee Chair
Facilities Update August 19, 2010
We will all have an opportunity to tour the church that is for sale at 4980 Gordon Avenue Northwest next Monday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. The Board is gathering input and preparing to begin negotiation with the building’s owner. We hope to have an agreement to buy the building for the congregation to vote on at the August 29th congregational meeting. Any agreement the Board works out will be contingent on the sale of our current building being completed and on a favorable vote of the congregation. We expect to know by the day of our congregational meeting that our buyer is prepared to close on our agreement.
The service and congregational meeting on August 29th will be held at the Gordon Avenue church. You are invited to bring a picnic lunch for your family to enjoy in the church or in Jacolyn Park which is less than a block from the church. The service will be at 11:00 AM as usual and the congregational meeting will begin at 1:00 PM. You should have received a notice of the congregational meeting along with details about the picnic location in a recent mailing. If you have additional questions or did not receive the mailing please call Board President Heather Dee (560-3875), President-Elect Jan Federer (362-6936) or Facilities chair Mary Huneke (550-4930).
Mary Huneke, Chair
Facilities Committee
|
