Folks active in the newspace@chpc task force gathered on the day after Memorial Day (Tuesday, May 26) to follow up on recommendations to the session and discussions with architect Kevin Milburn. Pastor Jane Larsen-Wigger reported that – partly through a June newsletter article – she had invited Crescent Hill church folks to participate in the facilities-related committees that the task force had recommended the session set up: building maintenance committee, housekeeping committee, grounds maintenance committee, and green committee.
Jane later reported that Ben Randell and Doug Yeager have been hashing out where to put the old sound system, recently fixed, and whether to pursue a new system. Jane also reported that the preschool board has decided to mulch some of the playground (which inspectors recently banned preschool kids from using, without the mulch) and have the swing set removed.
(Anita reminded folks about the possibility of moving the playground to the other side of the parking lot and the opportunity of striping the lot and having traffic U-turn around the lot.)
Anita reported on her Education Building research about replacing the huge gas-powered stove in the kitchen ($1,000 total for one each gas-powered and electric-powered stove like what you’d find in someone’s house) and improving acoustics in the Fireside Room (draperies for $100?) and carpet over the floor of most of the Fellowship Hall (along with perhaps banners and baffles). (Replacing the stove and installing ventilation would promote safety and energy conservation, while improving acoustics would promote accessibility.)
Anita will follow up by convening a group of users of the kitchen and other interested persons – in the kitchen – to explore the stove possibilities. The church will not try to make a stove change (and the addition of ventilation) prior to Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville’s summer Garden Camp, as the task force had hoped. Anita will also explore some other issues, including how much a commercial electric stove would cost and what exactly the building code requirements about ventilation are.
Anita will also consult Ada Bartlett-Asenjo about draperies and additional and replacement carpet tiles in the Fireside Room.
The group affirmed its long-term interest (as per the architect’s suggestion) in a westward expansion of church buildings and the construction of a new, larger Fellowship Hall (plus church offices) (where the playground and Scout Hut now sit). But group participants said that – especially with the state of the economy – this would not be something to undertake immediately. (In this scenario the current Fellowship Hall would be subdivided and the western end of the main building would be devoted to children’s and youth ministries).
Folks in the group expressed some interest in building a ramp out of a side door (on the south side of the main building, between the sanctuary and the choir room), heading down towards the Education Building and then raising and widening the roof over the breezeway between the main building and the Education Building (possibly extending out to the parking lot). This would be with or without a glass wall enclosing the ramp and with or without a lift to get people from the sanctuary floor to the floor with the church office. It could lead into the westward expansion, by helping people – including people who have trouble getting around – get to the current Education Building (and then through that building to the new building) – without having to go outside.
Task force folks talked at length about whether to spend the $10,000 to have the Scout Hut – at the northwestern end of the church property – removed or to invite Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL) to fix up the building a little and occupy it for two or three years (before the westward expansion might proceed). Ted Trautwein will take another look at the building and will talk with SAL’s Stephen Bartlett about whether the organization is still interested in using the building and whether it is willing to take the lead with any necessary changes to the building.
Laura Kelleher will follow up on suggestions from Martha Gee that Presbyterians for Disabilities loan and grants funds might be available to help finance changes designed to promote accessibility (such as the carpeting to improve acoustics). The group also recommended (to the session and the Stewardship Committee?) that the church fix and cover with exterior glass (having already done this to two of the some 14 old stained glass windows) an old stained glass window that is currently leaking.
-- Perry
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
June newsletter update
Acting on input from the congregation, the newspace@chpc task force* made some recommendations that the Session adopted. Many of these will need congregational involvement in order for them to be carried out. Specifically, volunteers with interest and expertise are needed for the following committees: (Please talk to Jane if you can help.)
- Building Maintenance: Tasks for this committee include coming up with a 5-year plan for maintenance needs and estimated costs, bringing this plan to Stewardship Council and then Session for approval and then implementing the plan (making sure on-going maintenance and general improvements are made to our property).
- Housekeeping: Tasks would be to plan for and carry out a system of keeping up with keeping things in order inside the buildings. This will mainly be a “ministry of clutter-control”!
- Grounds Maintenance: This would be a group of people willing to plan for and keep up with the outside areas surrounding our buildings.
- Green Committee: “Greening” the building showed up as a strong priority of the congregation. The session needs people with interest and expertise whose first assignment will be to come up with a Master Plan for the properties to become increasingly more environmentally responsible. This Plan will need to have a continuum from the simplest, cheapest things we can do right now to the dream of where we want to be in time.
These on-going groups are needed to simply keep up with, stay on top of the on-going needs of an old, but very well-used, building which is one of our great resources for ministry. This isn’t necessarily the “fun” work of the church – but in order for us to be responsible stewards of the facilities we have, it is essential. So please let Jane know if you can help with one of the on-going committees that are needed.
There are still questions about accessibility and space usage which will need to be explored. The newspace task force met with architect Kevin Milburn (of rkm designz, inc.). That conversation led to thinking about an eventual new building (fellowship hall/kitchen space) at the west end (St. Joseph side) of the current educational building and re-configuring the current fellowship hall space into more accessible office and meeting space. These ideas are, of course, down the line and will involve much more thought. The future of the Scout Hut is also (still!) in conversation. It needs to be determined if it is structurally safe for a new use or simply needs to be removed.
If you have questions, concerns, ideas please talk to a member of the Session or the newspace task force which includes Laura Kelleher, Anita Cary, Martha Gee, Perry Chang and Ben Langley.
-- Jane
- Building Maintenance: Tasks for this committee include coming up with a 5-year plan for maintenance needs and estimated costs, bringing this plan to Stewardship Council and then Session for approval and then implementing the plan (making sure on-going maintenance and general improvements are made to our property).
- Housekeeping: Tasks would be to plan for and carry out a system of keeping up with keeping things in order inside the buildings. This will mainly be a “ministry of clutter-control”!
- Grounds Maintenance: This would be a group of people willing to plan for and keep up with the outside areas surrounding our buildings.
- Green Committee: “Greening” the building showed up as a strong priority of the congregation. The session needs people with interest and expertise whose first assignment will be to come up with a Master Plan for the properties to become increasingly more environmentally responsible. This Plan will need to have a continuum from the simplest, cheapest things we can do right now to the dream of where we want to be in time.
These on-going groups are needed to simply keep up with, stay on top of the on-going needs of an old, but very well-used, building which is one of our great resources for ministry. This isn’t necessarily the “fun” work of the church – but in order for us to be responsible stewards of the facilities we have, it is essential. So please let Jane know if you can help with one of the on-going committees that are needed.
There are still questions about accessibility and space usage which will need to be explored. The newspace task force met with architect Kevin Milburn (of rkm designz, inc.). That conversation led to thinking about an eventual new building (fellowship hall/kitchen space) at the west end (St. Joseph side) of the current educational building and re-configuring the current fellowship hall space into more accessible office and meeting space. These ideas are, of course, down the line and will involve much more thought. The future of the Scout Hut is also (still!) in conversation. It needs to be determined if it is structurally safe for a new use or simply needs to be removed.
If you have questions, concerns, ideas please talk to a member of the Session or the newspace task force which includes Laura Kelleher, Anita Cary, Martha Gee, Perry Chang and Ben Langley.
-- Jane
Monday, May 4, 2009
April 29 session discussion
Anita Cary reported that the newspace task force met. Perry Chang, Jane Larsen-Wigger, Ted Trautwein, Anita Cary, and Kevin Milburn, the architect, were present. Kevin Milburn suggested we consider expanding in the direction of St. Joseph’s.All agreed that safety is the biggest concern. Kevin Milburn suggested - and the task force agreed - and proposed the following: - That we immediately change the stove in the kitchen - it’s not up to code because it doesn’t have a vent - and that we buy an electric stove (or two) because gas is more dangerous and electric stoves are greener.- That we improve the acoustics in the Fireside Room with drapes and extending the carpet to the edges of the room.- That we improve the acoustics in the Fellowship Hall by hanging fabric from dowels or chains.
Cost for all the above is roughly estimated to be about $5,000. More specific information and costs will be researched and brought back for approval. The venting of the stove has high priority.
-- Perry
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