First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington
Exploring Renovation: what’s going on?
Fall 2011

In May 2011, after a year of preliminary exploration by the Capital Campaign Exploration Committee into possible renovations to our building, the congregation voted to support the Parish Committee’s authorization of $25,000 from the general trust funds for a preliminary architectural scope study of possible renovations. We have established two committees to continue the exploration; the Building Design Committee and the Financial Feasibility Committee. Here's a summary update of where the project stands.

Space Matters

The members of the Building Committee are Andrew Leonard (Chair), Rick Wells, John Chamberlain, Bill Gardiner, Louise Strayhorn, and Rachel Stark. Their mission is to administer the $25,000 that the church has authorized to spend on the scope study. Their specific tasks are to:

• Identify what we want from the scope study
• Select an architect to prepare the scope study
• Work with the architect during the study process

The Building Committee has selected LDa Associates to execute the scope study. This Cambridge firm has extensive experience with church buildings, and the two partners and project manager working with us are all active Unitarian Universalists. You can see examples of their work at http://www.lda-architects.com/#/home/.

Money Matters

The members of the Financial Feasibility Committee, still in its early stages, are Kiki Giatis (Chair), Tim Francis-Wright, and David Terkla. Their mission is to assess the capacity of the congregation to raise funds for a capital campaign. Their specific tasks are to:

• Assess the potential for major gifts and the general capacity of the members to contribute
• Explore grant and loan opportunities, as well as use of trust funds, mortgage, or other funding sources
• Look at the long term financial health of First Parish in the context of a capital campaign

What’s Happening When

• Fall 2011: Work with architects to create options for renovations
• Sunday, October 30, 2011: Update from architects at an all-church meeting
• November 2011: Open brainstorm meeting for open-ended visioning (tentative)
• Sunday, January 22, 2012: Presentation of completed scope study at an all-church meeting
• February/March 2012: Work with financial consultant from the Unitarian Universalist Association
• May 2012: Congregation votes at Annual Meeting on whether to pursue a capital campaign

If a campaign is approved:

• Summer 2012: Capital Campaign is planned and architects are hired for design work.
• Fall 2012: Capital Campaign begins
• Spring 2013: Earliest possible time for construction to begin

We’re Listening

There will be multiple opportunities to give your feedback and ideas, in addition to the ones noted above. Presentations and interactive workshops with the architects and amongst ourselves over the course of this fall will provide opportunity to contribute and learn about the many issues associated with this project. Please read your weekly email and Sunday service insert for dates. So far we have heard some of the following questions and concerns:

• Accessibility and carbon footprint
• Making good use of existing space and setting correct priorities for renovation efforts
• Needs and wishes including adequate space and facilities for RE, meeting space, flow around the space, and the public face of the building
• Big picture concerns such as considering non-architectural answers to the challenges at hand, and adjusting to our growth as a congregation
• Financial concerns about how the funds would be raised, and how individuals would be called upon to participate

You Matter

For information, to give feedback, or to volunteer to help, contact:

• Anne Goodwin, Parish Committee Chair, parish@firstparish.info
• Andrew Leonard, Building Design Committee Chair, building@firstparish.info
• Kiki Giatis, Financial Feasibility Chair, feasibility@firstparish.info
  

630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476 | 781-648-3799 | Contact Us