Since the congregational meeting on May 2nd, the much discussed sanctuary re-design project has taken on more shape.
First of all, the Building Vision Group has filed an application with the state to become a 501(c)3 with the name the Town Clock Community Development Corporation. We chose to be a community development corporation because we do not want to exclusively be a building/housing development corporation. Rather, our vision is to include programming as other forms of ministry to the community. These visions will require time to develop, but we are looking into new things. Also, we added two persons to the board of the 501(c)3 who live with the need for supportive housing.
Second, we have met with two architectural firms, representatives from the NJ Housing Mortgage Financing Agency (HMFA), two development companies, two supportive services agencies, and the New Brunswick Housing Authority, as well as with Mayor Jim Cahill, who also took the time to do a site visit. Needless to say, there is a lot of support and excitement about the proposed project.
Third, along with all of this, we have worked on a budget for the upcoming year. With this budget, we begin to realize the need for funding a “building director”, or, better, an “executive director” for the project. This will have to be worked on and a job description developed. We are still in the preliminary stages of this.
Finally, our next steps will be: to agree upon an architectural firm, to look at design plans for the living units and the sanctuary, to bring those plans to a small group of the congregation for further discussion, to get commitments on funding, to visit several locations which have developed such housing and see how the program partners are working together.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me or anyone else on the team. We would really enjoy speaking to you about this project.
In June, the Core Committee of the Community Campaign met to discuss a brochure and discuss strategy. A new member of the Core Committee, and one with a ton of experience and knowhow is Ezra Helfand (Public Information Specialist, NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc.). Ezra helped the committee organize better and has unofficially “taken over” the chair duties; much to the gratitude/relief of the present chair, Sherri Novack. The chair remarked, “I am not a dummy, and know when to let the professionals with greater experience steer the ship.”
Another new member of the Core Committee is Janet Waanders, who chairs the “Mother Committee” but who has also agreed to be involved with the Core Committee. Other members of the committee are, former member Sean Kath, Gary Bernhofer, Liz Hance, Greg Ritter (owner of George Street Camera) and Pastor Hartmut.
One very well received email that Ezra sent to the committee challenged them to start thinking about the following:
An “official” plan of attack, that includes
1. Time table
a. When to make phone calls
i. Businesses during week and daytime. Personal calls in evenings
ii. Any issues with summer fund-raising due to vacations, etc.?
b. Over what period of time
2. Finalization of lists
a. By category
b. By target(s)
c. By caller(s)
3. Proposed script
4. Identification of individuals available to make calls
5. Agreed-upon follow-up procedure(s)
Thanks to Brittany Aran and Core Committee members, the first list, NJ Fortune 500 top companies, has been researched with 10 companies (of the 42) showing some willingness to support funding projects like the preservation project. More follow up is needed.
The Core Committee is still looking for volunteers to compile list of possible supporters. These lists will include local banks, lawyers, accountants etc. If you think you can help, please contact Sherri Novack at kvak@optonline.net.
The Congregational meeting on May 2nd was well attended, with some folks having to leave before the advisory vote was taken. The following was agreed upon (with 30-yes and 3-no votes) as the next steps in going forward with looking into the sanctuary re-visioning project:
- Form a 501(c)3.
- Meet with HMFA (Housing Mortgage Financing Agency) to determine viability of project from their end, including funding.
- Meet with Monarch Housing Associates, Inc. to see what support of this project they may provide.
- Meet with possible Program Partners to determine a “homeless population”.
- Continue to meet with Coming Home of Middlesex County, Developers from the Highland Park Affordable Housing Corp to plan funding and the next steps.
- Meet with the New Brunswick City official, for instance: Glenn Patterson, Director of Planning, Community & Economic Development.
- Eventually come up with further plans for the design of the housing (size of rooms), as well as the Sanctuary, including the location of the Library and the design of the worship space: chancel area and pews.
- Continue to inform consistory and the congregation through newsletter articles.
- Plan for another congregational event, providing further design plans.
We thank all of you who participated in the discussion. It was very lively and provided the group with some guidance for our future visits with the various organizations, which are mentioned above.
The Building Vision Group has since met with: HMFA; John Clark – Exececutive Director Of New Brunswick Housing & Redevelopment Authority; and architects from Kitchen and Associates – a firm experienced in providing plans for such projects. All of these meetings have provided us with suggestions and good ideas about how this building project may unfold.
Regarding our application for a 501(c)3, we hope to have it sent off by the end of the month.
Tagged as:
501(c)3
(Submitted for the Building Vision Ad-hoc Committee whose members are Stef Beemsterboer, Joan Fekete, Ellen Hamilton, Liz Hance)
On May 2nd from 11:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., the Building Vision Ad-hoc Committee is presenting the feasibility study of the sanctuary redesign to the entire congregation, as well as the next steps to be taken if we decided to continue with this project. We hope that many –if not all of you — stay after worship to participate in the discussion and vote.
This ad-hoc committee needs to receive support from the congregation in order to continue to meet with housing authorities and other funding sources for this project. In truth, there is much support coming from various organizations which are encouraging us to pursue this vision, however, in order for us to move forward, we need to have your approval.
This redesign, as you will come to know during the presentation, holds many ramifications — structural changes, further ministry outreach, and even income resource. We hope that you are willing to listen to the vision of the work and to provide some thoughtful reflection on how this is expressing the love of God to our surrounding community.
Tagged as:
congregation
A lot of remodeling is going on in our church. We just finished the women’s bathroom – please see the pictures – that show many of our friends from the Colts Neck Reformed Church who provided a lot of know-how and labor. All of this happened under the joint leadership of Dotty Weidman of the Colts Neck church and Julius Fekete who led the First Reformed team in his well-tried way. The selfless service of both groups was just incredible, and we extend a great thank-you to our sister church and to our own volunteers.
During the month of May, we will begin construction on the outside: church roof and steeple will be our primary projects. And then there is our feasibility study on reshaping the interior of our sanctuary. First results will be presented during coffee hour on May 2nd. [ more » ]
The Building Vision Group is inviting all the members of First Reformed Church to attend a special meeting. We — Stef Beemsterboer, Ellen Hamilton, Joan Fekete, Liz Hance, and Pastor Susan — have been working on some exciting ideas for new possibilities of using our blessedly large facilities, and we would like to share these ideas with you as well as receive your feedback. Please plan to stay that day for a little longer.
James Oleg Kruhly of Kruhly Architects in Philadelphia, provided us a wonderful lecture on Sunday, Feb 21st, titled, The Changing Nature of Places of Worship. As Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, Mr. Kruhly has received several awards, including the Fellow of the American Institutes of Architects in 1992 in recognition of his national contributions to design. He has completed projects in ten states, as well as in Europe.
Mr. Kruhly’s lecture gave the many gathered in Fellowship Hall an historic perspective of the development of architecture on this continent, beginning with the meeting house style, which was added on to with a foyer and eventually a steeple. Furthermore, the last fifty years has shown an ever increasing preference for the less ornate — almost barn-like — extroverted structures which are more and more open to the natural world.
Mr. Kruhly also touched on the subject of our own considerations regarding a remodeling of the sanctuary interior, for which we have employed him to provide us with a feasibility study. He briefly showed the slides of what such a change could look like.
Sometime in April, the Building Vision Group plans to invite the congregation to hear more about these ideas and to respond with their own thoughts, hopes and dreams.
Tagged as:
architecture
