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Unitarian Church of Sharon
4 N. Main St.
Sharon, MA 02067
781-784-3652
E-mail UCS
Project AIM:
Accessibility and Improvements to the Meetinghouse
For more infomation on Project AIM contact the Project AIM committee.
View a photo slideshow of the demolition of the RE wing.
May 2010
Building Dedication
On Sunday afternoon, May 16th, we’ll formally dedicate our wonderful new building. The service at 2:00 PM, led by Rev. Tricia Brennan, will include our former minister Deb Cayer and invited guests from our larger UU and community circles; the preacher will be the Rev. Terry Sweetser, UUA Vice President for Stewardship and Development. Care for young children will be available in the Nursery. Following the service, we’ll enjoy light refreshments (including a fancy cake, of course) and offer tours of the building from 3:30 to 5:00.
This is our chance to thank members of our community who helped us achieve our dream, and to share our celebration with the interfaith and larger Unitarian Universalist community. Since we expect a big crowd and need to reserve enough seats for participants and guests, we plan to make Program Space AB an overflow ‘second sanctuary’ with video hookup, so there will be room for all. To help our planning, we request that you let us know if you’ll be there for the service and whether you’ll need nursery care. If you plan to come, just send an email to Janet Mayo, or leave a phone message at the office letting her know. Please try to park offsite and leave our lot free for guests and those with mobility difficulties.
Much help is needed for this very special celebration—greeters, ushers, food servers, tour guides, setup and cleanup crews, and more. If you can, please offer your help to Lisa Yeransian. Thank you!
The Building Dedication Committee
March 2010
Ceremony of Blessing
Led by Interim Minister Patricia Brennan and Parish President Philip Conover, members and friends of the Unitarian Church of Sharon recently held a ceremony of blessing in their new addition to the historic Meetinghouse. The addition makes the church fully accessible and also provides needed classroom, meeting and office space. Renovation of the kitchen and vestry has now begun - the second phase of the $1.3 million project. A service of dedication is planned in May, when the entire project has been completed.
February 2010
"You've Got to Suffer to Sing the Blues"
Each time we get within days of receiving our occupancy permit for the new building, we suffer another unexpected setback. Once again, it is the elevator causing the emotional ups and downs.
On Thursday, the elevator failed the State inspection. Actually, all aspects of the installation and construction associated with the elevator passed inspection. It was the elevator itself that failed. The reason for the failure as told to us by the inspector and the elevator manufacturer is that the new State director of elevator inspections has issued a new interpretation of the existing code covering LULA (limited use limited access) elevators. The director has told inspectors to fail all such elevators that use “rope socket” technology to attach the cable to the elevator cab. From what we have heard, this began Monday without any warning or a period of time for the elevator companies to adjust to the new interpretation. The technology has been in use for over 20 years, and so far, we have not heard of any accidents or failures related to the technology.
The elevator companies have taken the issue to court. On Friday, a judge set a hearing date of February 2nd. A motion to grant a temporary waiver of this new interpretation will be heard this Monday January 25th. If the waiver is granted, we could be given an occupancy permit by the middle of next week. We will also explore with the Sharon Building Inspector the possibility of a temporary waiver allowing us to occupy the building with the elevator locked out of use. The problem with that is that without the elevator the building is not ADA compliant and therefore in violation of the current building code. Catch 22.
If the temporary waiver is granted for the elevator, we plan to have the fire alarm system inspected by Wednesday. The inspection of the fire alarm system is tied to the availability of the elevator since in the event of a fire, the elevator must be automatically shut down. This feature needs to be tested as part of the fire inspection. Catch 22.
We have also run into problems with the installation of the linoleum floors in the Nursery and Program Space C downstairs. The tile was installed incorrectly and we have experienced tiles curling and coming loose. We have reviewed the problem with the supplier and their installer and are taking measures to have the problem corrected. We will retain the services of an independent flooring inspector to assess and document the problem in order to ensure that we can take whatever measures we feel are necessary to correct the installation. This is not a problem that would prevent us from getting the occupancy permit. But, it will mean that we will not use those rooms until the problem has been fixed.
If those are the “downs,” there are “ups” to be thankful for and to celebrate. For starters, Gare Reid has offered to convert his misfortune into our good fortune by volunteering to lead the effort to move us into the new building. In a week marked by disappointing news, Gare’s selfless offer was a huge boost. Please support him when he calls since managing the move (given the uncertain dates) will be tricky and require patience.
Another “up” is that the renovation of the kitchen and the vestry will go forward as recommended. Responses to the letter to the congregation and AIM donors by Philip and Jack were unanimously positive. Joyce Bramhall and Beth McGregor are working to find a suitable replacement for the stove that would not require the church to meet commercial kitchen code. We will finalize all design plans with DiGiando over the next two weeks.
Work inside the AIM addition is essentially complete. We passed the electrical inspection last week. The architect and his mechanical engineer also inspected the building last week and approved it. An AIM team has been organized to inspect the building and develop a “punch list” of items that need to be addressed by DiGiando before we accept the building. The chandelier has been installed in the foyer. George has installed the ADA compliant railings and most of the door hardware. The good news that overrides all the bad news of the week is that all of you that have toured the new spaces have been pleased with the results and thrilled with what we have accomplished.
“For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.” - John Burroughs
January 2010
AIM – Oh So Close!
Despite everyone’s best efforts, we won’t be in the new building before Christmas. But we won’t have much longer to wait.
Right now, the critical milestone for getting our occupancy permit is having the elevator inspected. The elevator will be finished on the 23rd and with some luck the inspection will take place before the New Year’s weekend. If we are not so lucky, it will happen the following week.
In the meantime, it’s exciting to see so many tasks reaching completion one right after another in a kind of coordinated dance. The painting is nearly complete. The last coat of paint will go on the foyer walls Monday. Carpets and flooring are down in the offices upstairs and in the RE Office and Program Space C. The rest of the carpet will be completed Tuesday followed by tiling the foyer. The electricians have installed the pendant lights in the program spaces and will have the cove lights in the offices before the week is out. Next week, they will install the sconces and the chandelier. The plumbing is pretty much complete with only counters and sinks in the bathrooms to be finished.
For the next week and a half, we will lose some room in the vestry. As rooms in the new building get completed. DiGiando will need to move some materials and tools temporarily into the vestry. We have also started receiving deliveries of some of the furnishings for the new rooms that we will need to hold in the vestry until the rooms are ready to receive them. We’ll be able to do that by the first week of the new year.
Once the building is complete, DiGiando will make the changes to the vestry that are covered under our contract with them. This work primarily involves taking out the bathrooms and converting the area where the coat racks and bathrooms are into a storage area. As part of that effort, the old electrical panel that is currently under the stairs behind the kitchen will be moved “indoors” into the new storage room. We will also be able to get back to finishing the front stairs up to the sanctuary.
With the new building almost finished, AIM has begun planning and getting cost estimates for renovating the vestry and the kitchen. The vestry has taken a beating over the course of the summer from the dampness and the impact of the construction. The kitchen is … still the kitchen. In addition to needing some sprucing up, we have just been told by the Town that if we want to keep a commercial stove we will need to install a commercial hood, venting, and fire suppression system (presumably to protect against the possibility of bean fires). This is an expensive proposition. The Fire Department and Building Inspector have also brought this requirement up with the Congregational Church and one of the temples in town.
The AIM committee had hoped to review these renovation plans with the congregation in a meeting after the service on December 20 but we were effectively snowed out. This meeting is being rescheduled to take place after the service on January 3rd. Discussion and feedback from the congregation is needed before a recommendation can be made on what renovations should be undertaken, when the renovations should be performed, and how much money should be spent. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend and share their feelings on these questions.
November 2009
AIM Progress Report
Anyone going by the Church can see the incredible and exciting progress that is being made on the new addition. Today I went by and saw the siding being put on and could easily visualize the finished product. The most up-to-date completion/move-in ready date is December 23rd. This is not likely to be the actual move-in date; as one can imagine, it is one of the most hectic times of the year. However, move-in will happen soon after this.
Jack Armstrong, our project manager has sent on a list of what will be going on in November:
Site Work- The parking lot will be graded and paved with the first layer of asphalt (binder coat). A fence will be installed behind the addition. Some landscaping will be done, weather permitting (seeding and evergreens).
Heat- The heating system will be activated for the new building to protect against any possibility of a freeze up.
Plumbing- All plumbing should be completed with the exception of installing the sprinkler heads.
Electrical- The new service from the street will be installed. Electrical panels and most light fixtures will be put in.
Interior Finish- Foam insulation will be added to all exterior walls by the end of October and then all drywall will be installed. Interior trim (baseboard, chair rails, crown molding) and doors should be completed by the end of November.
Painting- The exterior of the Meetinghouse will be painted, weather permitting.
Elevator- Installation before the end of the month.
- Susan Edinger
June 2009
Ready to Go!
As I write this, a team of volunteers are clearing out the RE Wing, sending most of its contents into storage in a warehouse in Attleboro (loaned through the generosity of Joe Rando). The Church offices will be temporarily quartered at the Congregational Church throughout the construction period. On May 30th, the contents of the offices will be packed up and moved across the street. Volunteers are still welcome for this task - contact Ken Zaniewski or Schnig.
Jack Armstrong reports that that final piece of paper - the building permit will be ready for pick-up on May 26th - so, no barriers to our planned start date of June 1st. A groundbreaking ceremony following the service on May 31st is in the final stages of planning. Refreshments will follow the ceremony, featuring a surprise cake. June 1 will begin a week of preliminary preparation work and then the demolition of the RE wing will begin.
I am in awe of the hard work put in by so many and the financial commitment of even more that has brought us to this point. Let us all take a deep breath and go forward.
- Susan Edinger
May 2009
AIM Update
We have received the detailed bids from the contractor, and have been reviewing them. The overall costs appear to be within our budget, with only a couple of items still under discussion with the contractors for possible lower costs. The generosity of so many members and friends in the 4th year capital campaign was the necessary ingredient that made the difference! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
April 2009
AIM Update
Last week after many months, even years of planning, designing, and pledging to make AIM a reality, we saw the first physical signs of activity. On Thursday March 26th, Sharon Tree Service began removing the trees at the rear of our property and in the playground area. By midday on Friday, the trees were down and the area was cleared.
The change was profound. We’ll miss watching the tops of these trees from the sanctuary. Many of us were surprised to see how much space we have at the back of the property now that the tangle of saplings and trees have been cleared. The playground fence has been taken down and rolled up until we reuse it for the new playground. The climbing tower has been moved and will be relocated to a place between the beech trees where it can be used safely during construction. And, there’s a giant pile of wood chips steaming on the cold mornings waiting to be reused for borders and garden mulch.
The trees were taken down to allow space for the new septic system and to make room for planting new trees that will provide a new habitat and privacy for our neighbors. Nearly all of the trees removed were Norway maples. The Norway maple is an invasive species originally brought from Europe for planting in cities. In open spaces they spread quickly choking out all other plants, even themselves. “The aggressive roots [of the Norway maple] frequently girdle their parent tree, ultimately choking itself to death.” – from About.com on forestry. Because of these characteristics, it was clear that the new trees and shrubs would not have a chance to grow and thrive unless the Norway maples came down.
In their place, a mix of evergreens will be planted along the border of the property to provide a privacy screen for our neighbors. We will also put up a wood fence extending from Depot Street to the Mende’s fence. The fence will be similar in style to the Mende’s fence. The new trees will be a minimum of 10’ high when planted and will provide year round greenery and privacy. We will also plant a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs that in time will restore our view with a healthier more sustainable environment.
Since last June, we have met with our neighbors to understand their needs and to share with them our plans. We worked to find solutions that could meet all of their needs as well as our own. This has been possible in all cases but one. The Mendes very much wanted to keep all of the trees along the back of the property. Unfortunately, their wishes conflicted those of our other neighbors as well as our desire to create a sustainable environment that would provide everyone privacy. We offered several compromises to the Mendes that would have left some of the Norway maples but none of the offers were accepted. When the Zoning Board made the sustainable privacy screen a condition of their approval of the AIM project, we made the decision to remove all the Norway maples.
With the trees down, we will start the geotechnical assessment needed to verify that the design for the foundation of the addition is appropriate for the soil conditions. Four test holes will be drilled on the north and west side of the RE wing. You are likely to see the drill rigs one day in the next two weeks.
In the meantime, costs have been coming in from potential contractors and the pledge drive is well under way. Within the next month, we should know where we stand regarding the expected cost of the project and the funds that we will be able to raise to pay for it. We are coming closer with every day that passes!
On May 3rd, after the morning service, the Worship Committee is hosting an Open Session on the worship life at the church. Any and all thoughts of our current worship life are welcome- things that you love, suggestions for changes, questions, hopes. You don’t have to wait till then to share your thinking on this crucial aspect of congregational life, but do come if you can.
March 2009
AIM Schedule Update
The AIM project is continuing to move forward with the intent of beginning construction this Spring. New design drawings that reflect the cost savings proposals that were agreed on have been completed and have been provided to DiGiando Corporation for the solicitation of new bids. DiGiando began soliciting new bids from contractors during the week of February 23rd. This effort will continue through March 13th. Early reports are that contractors are eager to bid and anxious for work. Not surprising during these times.
Assuming that we have received adequate bids on all aspects of the project, we plan to evaluate the bids and receive a new roll-up of total project costs during the week of March 16. This will give us our first look at where we stand with respect to reducing the overall project costs. The design changes that we made during the winter are intended to reduce costs by an estimated $100,000. We are also hopeful that lower commodity costs (remember gas was over $4 per gallon when the job was originally bid last Summer) and more aggressive labor bids will bring us to our goal of being able to fund the AIM project completely from the proceeds of the capital campaign. The plan is that the updated cost information will be available as Stewardship completes this years pledge drive.
If we do meet our goal, we would be able begin construction as early as the first week of May! If the costs are still too high, we will go back and work to lower the costs by soliciting additional bids and looking for additional design changes. The encouraging aspect of this is that we have some leverage in that contractors want the work and know we are ready to start now if the costs come into line. If we do have to further massage the bids and the design, there will be some additional delay but we still expect to have construction take place this summer.
Meanwhile, other AIM activities continue in anticipation of construction. We will meet with the Historical Commission March 11 to review with them the changes to the building since their approval of the project last July. These are minor involving smaller windows with no window wells on the lower floor (cost and maintenance savings), and asphalt shingles instead of the “slate-look” shingles that had been part of the original design. (We decided they didn’t really look like slate and were more expensive.)
Also in March, drill rigs will be brought on site to drill holes for the geotechnical survey required before the foundation can be put in place. This is to ensure that the soil quality is appropriate for the design of the foundation and to determine if there is any obstructions under the RE wing (e.g., big rocks). Once we have made the decision to begin the construction, we will also have the final phase of the environmental tests performed. This will require taking samples of the RE wing foundation, roofing, and other materials for testing. At the same time, we will be meeting with the Town to obtain building permits.
Stay tuned. Stay optimistic. By this time next month, we should have a very good idea of where we stand financially and a better idea of when we will begin construction.
February 2009
Response Letter to the Editor
The letter below was sent in response to the recent article in the Sharon Advocate about the cellular antenna, which conflated the AIM project with plans for the cellular antenna. I decided that it was important to set the record straight about our building project, but did not address the negative comments about the plans for the cellular antenna which were included in the article and several letters to the editor over the last few weeks. If other members feel strongly about these comments they still have the option of responding in a separate letter.
Linda
To the Editor:
I am responding to the article in the Sharon Advocate by Phil Salisbury on January 2, 2009 titled “Sharon 2008 year in review”. The article contained errors concerning the building plans of the Unitarian church linking them with a proposal by Omnipoint Communications to install a cellular antenna in the steeple of the Meetinghouse. As the chair of the Accessibility and Improvement of the Meetinghouse Committee (AIM), which oversees the building plans; I wanted to set the record straight.
The congregation plans to replace the small existing addition extending off the rear of the original building with a larger addition designed specifically to provide accessibility to the Meetinghouse for people with disabilities. The new addition will house an elevator and provide increased classroom and office space. This renovation will provide universal access and room for growth, better meeting the needs of our congregation and the Sharon community.
The AIM project has been in development for over 5 years, long before any discussions with Omnipoint about a cellular antenna occurred. The AIM project has no physical or financial relationship to the proposal for a cellular antenna. It is a completely separate effort of the congregation to provide universal access to our building, which we consider a social justice issue.
The AIM project has been designed to build an attractive, green building in harmony with the historic Meetinghouse. We anticipate that ground breaking for the building will begin this spring, regardless of decisions concerning the antenna.
Sincerely,
Linda Godfrey-Bailey
AIM Committee Chair
January 2009
AIM Design Committee News
The Design committee for the church expansion project is gearing up to start the process in selecting finishes and furnishings. Initial contact was made to each committee head looking for a preliminary understanding of furniture needs per room. Once the information is returned to the committee we will sit down to evaluate the needs in each room, inventory the existing furniture and plug these initial findings into a floor plan. Our group will then meet with each committee to review the plans for fine tuning. A budget will be drawn up after fine tuning for furnishings. We will then work out a color palette with finishes on a board so everyone in the church can have an input. Other items we will consider and include will be signage and bulletin boards/display cabinets.
If you are in possession of church furniture or any archival material which should be displayed, please contact Melissa Mills at mills_gang@hotmail.com.
The committee members are Melissa Mills who has years of experience in the office furniture sales and planning. Cindy Wilson and Joyce Bramhall come with years of experience selecting finishes. All of us are looking forward to the new addition and in making it a pleasant place to work and worship in.
December 2008
AIM Building Update
In case you were wondering, the ideas generated by our four cost savings meetings and our AIM committee review of your comments are can be broken down into three categories: the yes we will make that change category, the conditional changes category (maybe we will make these changes if our experts can confirm they are safe, green, efficient, and cost saving) and the ADDED ideas for changes category, where you came up with new ideas for improving the project.
All three types of ideas have been sent to our architect, Lou Alleveto, our general contractor, Digiando and Sons, and our site engineer, Jim Susi for review.
When they get back to us with their comments (for example is the furnace which is 94% efficient as reliable as the one that is 92% efficient) that information, along with the AIM recommendation will go to the Board for a final decision.
Final pricing of the whole project will be done in January once Lou has completed the final construction plans, by rebidding the work of the subcontractors. We will know what amount we will need to borrow based on those figures and the amount of all pledges, which have been received up to that time.
Linda Godfrey-Bailey
November 2008
AIM Building Update
Take a deep breath…..and another…..bids and estimates of the AIM costs are in and we have a gap of $191,906 above our original estimate of $ 1,007,500 to build the project. This estimate is based on recent bids and may change somewhat as prices of energy come down. The AIM Nuts & Bolts committee met this week with our architect and general contractor to look at how we could narrow this gap to make building the project more affordable. We came up with a number of ideas for how to value engineer (cut cost) the project. Here is what all these ideas saved us: $136,383. Our estimated gap remaining is now a much more manageable $55,525.
Some of these cost saving ideas are simple and do not affect the use, greenness or esthetics of the new space. Some have several pros and cons we will need to balance in deciding if we want to add or eliminate them from the building. Our architect tells us that he can easily put many items back in the plans if we increase the funds we raise.
We wanted to make sure you all had a chance to ask questions and give us your thoughts, before instructing the architect to make the revisions to the plans starting on Nov 17th. Why Nov 17th? To allow enough time for him to finish the drawings and have our contractor send it out for rebids (which may save more money) in January, and keep us on track to break ground in April.
What should you expect? We will be having open forums at church after each service for the next 4 Sundays. Look for announcements in the order of service with time and location. We value your feedback, and want to hear from you. If you can’t get to one of the forums please send us an email to accessibility@uusharon.org. Stewardship will be involved in looking at the financing of the project and will update all of us separately.
List of the cost saving ideas. (PDF, 111kb)
September 2008
When to Build?
This summer has been a flurry of activity, as we worked toward getting things ready for an expected start to building this fall. We successfully cleared the hurdles (Olympic metaphor) of gaining the approvals of the Historic Commission, Board of Health and Zoning Board. Like most marathoners we also found that unexpected challenges and delays slowed us down. Time was getting tight as we had higher costs than expected and delays in getting bids. We shared with the Board that if we did not break ground before October 1 we risked increased cost and weather delays.
The Board of Trustees heard from other committees, the staff and the Minister about what they would need to do to make things work for a fall start to construction. They also heard how people would be affected by this project coming at the start of the church year. They began thinking about whether we should consider starting construction in April, instead. The Board asked AIM to help them come to a decision by giving our viewpoint of how building now versus later would affect us and the project.
After a careful, deliberative process we listed our pros and cons for the two building times, now and in April. Here is what we came up with:
Build Now: PRO
Having accessibility sooner rather than later
Costs get locked in
AIM workers can complete their charge
Build Now: CON
Need to borrow more money since fewer pledged monies are in
Less time to plan for interior design
Build April: PRO
Less impact on congregation’s use of building
Reduced winter construction issues
More time to cleverly cut costs in budget (Value engineering)
More time for receiving input on interior design plans and greening
Have a new building to come back to in September as opposed to living with chaos during fall construction
Contractors have more lead time and can schedule more efficiently
Some AIM workers feel relieved to start later.
Perhaps upset neighbor has time to understand the issues and adjust
Waiting 6 months is nothing in comparison to the 5 years we have worked on this so far
Build April: CON
Risk commitments of pledge fulfillment (Could happen if build in fall also)
Unknown change in costs
Burnout of AIM members
At the end of our listing the pros and cons we came to these conclusions:
If we build in April:
1. We have many more learning opportunities within the congregation about various aspects about this project.
2. We can bring in more people.
3. We have more time to plan furnishings, colors, etc: interior design aspects.
4. We have time to communicate the parameters of the project.
5. Program development can begin in a non-chaotic atmosphere.
We then voted on this, sharing our individual viewpoints, and our unanimous recommendation was to build in April. We added the caveat that the building date should be a firm one, to ensure we do not further delay the project.
Linda Godfrey-Bailey
August 2008
AIM Project Update
The Accessibility Improvements to the Meetinghouse (AIM) project achieved several key milestones during the past month. While the schedule remains tight, there is still a good possibility to begin construction this Fall.
On June 30, the Board of Health approved our plans for the building and the site. Their decision includes approval of the new septic system and a “rain garden” that will help manage the conservation of water from the roofs and parking lot. The Board of Health attached only limited requirements to the approval including a request to install low flow toilets and motion activated faucets to conserve water and to convey to congregants and users of the church a policy of water conservation and environmentally friendly cleaning products through appropriate signage. We are also asked to monitor water usage during peak periods of use and report back to the Board.
On July 9, our building and site plans were presented to the town Zoning Board of Appeals. Members of the Zoning Board complimented the Church on the design of the AIM addition and expressed their belief that it will be an attractive complement to the town square. Two of our neighbors, the Halls and the Gundlahs, attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the AIM plans and our openness in working with them to address any concerns they had.
The bulk of the Zoning Board meeting was spent discussing our landscape plans and specifically the plans for removal of existing trees and their replacement with different species of trees that we feel will provide a more effective year round screen for the neighbors and a better environment for the support of additional plantings and for the long term growth and health of trees and shrubbery at the back of the property. The discussion centered on the plans to remove most of the Norway maples that have sprung up behind the playground.
One of our neighbors, the Mendes, had asked the Board not to allow the removal of the maples. Two other neighbors from the other side of Pleasant Street also expressed their concern on this matter. We had asked Paul Spender of Sharon Tree to attend the meeting and speak on our behalf concerning the removal of the maples and the new plantings that are planned. Paul pointed out that the Norway maples are an invasive species that effectively crowd out and prevent the growth and survival of other plants. They have a shallow root system that deprive other plants access to water and make the maples themselves unstable in storms.
The chairman of the Zoning Board advised the people at the meeting that Norway maples are considered “weed trees” and their planting is prohibited in Sharon. Our plans were approved by a unanimous voice vote of the Board. As a condition of approval, the Board required that the plantings along the back of the property be a minimum of 10’ in height at the time of planting. The decision of the Zoning Board was filed with the Town Clerk on July 24.
On July 16, the Sharon Historical Commission formally approved our plans for the AIM addition. This was largely a formality as we had met with the Commission multiple times in the past to keep them apprised of our plans. They asked only that we show them the materials that we will use for outdoor lighting and for signage on the addition as we go forward. They did note that if and when we decide to make changes to the signs at the front of the property, we will need to submit new plans for the signs to them for approval.
A 20-day public appeal period begins now for both the Zoning Board and the Historical Commission decisions. Any Sharon resident that wishes to file a legal appeal against these decisions may do so during this period. Upon expiration of the appeal period, we may formally submit the construction plans and specifications to the town building inspector for the issuance of building permits. We expect that building permits could be provided as early as the end of August allowing construction to begin at the start of September.
In the meantime, the construction management company, Dennis DiGiando Corporation, has been in the process of soliciting and evaluating bids for the construction and site work. As of this writing, we are still awaiting additional bids from contractors so that we can determine an initial estimated total cost of the project. We plan to have a meeting with DiGiando and Allevato Architects on August 4 to review the bids and discuss opportunities for reducing the overall cost of the project.
The next two critical milestones for the project coming up in the month ahead will be completing the work of achieving a total estimated project cost that we can support, and working with our Board of Trustees on the decision of when to start construction. The decision on when to start the construction will be based on the total estimated cost, the potential risks of construction during the Fall and Winter, and the relative impact on Church programs and activities of a September versus an April start of construction.
Please feel free to provide your feedback to the Board of Trustees and to AIM.
July 2008
AIM Green
This from the Nuts and Bolts Committee: Joe Rando, Jeanne Zaniewski, Linda Godfrey Bailey, Rory McGregor , Jack Armstrong, Ellen Schoenfeld-Beeks.
We heard remarks at Annual Meeting wanting us to build “green.” We are on it! Although solar may not be in our immediate future other things are. Building “green” talk has been part of the designing process and continues to be a concern and focus. Our bidding plans address “green” in these ways:
1. 2x6 construction allows for greater insulation—one of the best practices we can do for the money.
2. Addition of 200 sq. ft. entry vestibule to minimize building heat/ cooling loss.
3. Using high R-value windows.
4. Using high efficiency heating and cooling systems. Solar is too expensive and not so efficient for how we use the building.
5. Looking into on-demand water heaters so water gets heated at the source and time of need.
6. Outside Siding is cement-based, pre-painted, adds insulation value and reduces maintenance.
7. We have asked for no PVC use.
8. Using efficient lighting and installing so we can use it efficiently with dimmers and sensors.
9. Lula elevator is smaller, requiring less shaft digging, less energy to operate and maintain.
10. Efficient use of space: Using a 2-story building which is more efficient to heat and cool.
11. Recycling demolition area materials (by law cinderblocks go into road construction).
12. Using a rain garden for drainage.
13. Eliminating the capture of roof water to a cistern, using it to water the Memorial Garden.
14. Attracting insects and birds to the area by removal of many invasive Norway Maples and planting a variety of evergreens and native species of plants around the parking lot, the rain garden and the entrance to the building. Somewhere we need a source of water?
As we move into greater planning details, we are aware of other choices. We are looking at non-toxic paints, carpets, adhesives, etc., and whenever time and money allow, we choose to use the “greener” product as long as it is makes sense in terms of durability.
Have ideas? Meetings are open to all. Talk to any of us for the next meeting. Steering Committee meets July 2.
July 2008
AIM Project Update
The Accessibility Improvements to the Meetinghouse (AIM) project is entering a critical phase that will determine the timing of construction. Here’s a summary of what has been happening during June and what will happen as we move through the summer. Needless to say, it’s a very busy time and the continued support of all members will be greatly appreciated… and counted on.
At the start of June, we reviewed and made changes to the bid documents with our architect (Allevato Architects) and construction management firm (DiGiando Corporation). DiGiando has since been soliciting bids from contractors for all aspects of the work from demolition to construction, from digging the foundation to completing the landscaping. Potential contractors have been visiting the church to examine existing property and building conditions, evaluate the heating system, and prepare their bids. In the coming weeks, DiGiando will roll up the bid responses to provide an initial estimate of the actual cost of construction. The AIM committee will work with them to review the bids and look for ways to reduce costs and gain additional savings.
On June 11 the site plan and the final changes to the addition were presented to the Sharon Historical Commission, which continues to be a strong supporter of the design of the AIM addition, and now, the plan for the Meetinghouse grounds. Barring any changes, they will provide a “letter of appropriateness” (their formal approval) after our plans have been presented to the Zoning Board.
On June 13 at the annual meeting the congregation authorized the Board of Trustees to enter into a loan agreement, supported by the pledges from the capital campaign, which will be used to fund the start of construction. For the article to be passed, a minimum of fifty percent of the church’s members had to be present with two thirds voting in favor. Many thanks to Gary Webber, who made it 51%, and to Jessy Armstrong (Knock, knock. “Hi Mr. Webber, I’m here to take care of your children. They need you at the church!”).
Over the last few weeks, Rory McGregor and Ellen Schoenfeld have been meeting with our neighbors who directly abut our property. The neighbors have expressed support for our plans and appreciate the openness and interest we have shown in their concerns. They have told us they are willing to attend the meeting with the Zoning Board as supporters of the AIM addition. Their support significantly enhances our chances for approval.
On June 30 we will meet with the Board of Health to seek their approval of the site plan and the septic system in particular. That same night, the RE committee is meeting to plan the packing and storage of all RE materials in anticipation of construction starting before services begin this Fall. We will be looking for volunteers to help with the RE packing as well as with moving the office and emptying the RE wing.
On July 9 we present our plans to the Zoning Board. If they have no objection to the plans for the AIM addition, they would be expected to vote their approval at their next meeting on July 23. Upon approval by the Zoning Board, a twenty day appeal period begins. During this time, we will be obtaining demolition and building permits from the town. If there are no appeals, we could be ready to begin construction by September 1.
DiGiando has advised us that we should begin construction no later than October 1. After that, the winter weather is likely to cause delays and increase costs. So, we are on a tight schedule, but we are still optimistic that we can start construction this year.
June 2008
Memorial Garden Update
Good News! Members of Accessibility and Improvements to the Meetinghouse have met with engineers and contractors and have worked out a plan that spares the Memorial Garden from heavy construction equipment. All construction will take place from the parking lot or the rear of the property, and every precaution also will be taken to safeguard the Garden from construction mishaps. While there is always a risk of damage with this kind of project, the good news is that the garden plants, soil and pathway can remain in place with reasonable expectations that they won’t be seriously affected. (When you see them you can thank Joe Rando, Ellen Schoenfeld and Jack Armstrong!)
May 2008
Memorial Garden
Recently members of the Accessibility Committee (AIM) were quite surprised and unhappy to learn that after very careful consideration, heavy equipment will need access to the construction site of the new RE wing through the Memorial Garden. The Garden has been a labor of love for many congregation members, none more so than Susie Gray who led groups to envision, design, plant and faithfully weed the garden. Susie's ashes are among those that have been scattered or interred in the garden. And many other special events have taken place in the garden; new babies have been blessed and couples have lovingly exchanged their vows here, and the entire congregation has occasionally begun or ended Sunday services in the beauty of this very special place.
AIM Committee members met, worked through big feelings that this news evoked, and have begun to make extensive plans to protect not only the plants, especially the weeping cherry, but even more, soil that contains ashes. Committee members' priority is making certain that this whole matter is handled with love, respect and absolute care. They are confident they can respectfully move the parts of the garden that need protection, store them safely in "healed in" places over the summer, then rebuild and rededicate the garden after construction of the building's exterior shell is complete. The Committee has contacted families who have memorialized loved ones in the garden. The Committee is also planning a ritual in early May (day and time tbd) with the minister, and will make certain that adequate funds are earmarked to hire professionals to help move trees and restore the garden.
If you have concerns or questions about this, or would like to be part of the ritual in May, please contact Linda Godfrey-Bailey or Ellen Schoenfeld.
April 2008
Dialogue Regarding Sanctuary Space
The proposed renovation to our Church building offers many opportunities to improve access to the building, improve RE and office space, and otherwise enhance the physical structure we use for so many purposes. Less obvious is the impact of this renovation and addition on the Sanctuary, the space that is used for worship each Sunday and that is the physical heart of the Church.
Some impacts of the renovation on the Sanctuary space include removal of a large segment of the stage to accommodate the new entrance, use of that entrance as the primary way to enter the Sanctuary, and changes in the flow into and out of the sanctuary as a result of there being two entrances and exits. The current arrangement of pews will also need to be changed to make the Sanctuary fully accessible.
The Worship Committee has been discussing these and other changes to the Sanctuary with AIM, the Board, and other Church Committees. We would like to facilitate an open discussion with the Congregation during April to make all our membership aware of these changes and to offer them an opportunity to voice their opinions about changes to the Sanctuary space.
We’d like to hear your thoughts about how the Sanctuary space could be enhanced during or after the renovation process such as by repairing or replacing pews or pew cushions or making other physical changes. We would also like your thoughts about how the orientation of the Sanctuary space should be changed, if at all, after the renovation, whether or not we should keep the stage, and any other thoughts you may have about the design and use of this important space.
The first of these open discussions will be on Sunday April 6th at 12:00 (in the Sanctuary). There will be a separate opportunity for discussion of this topic on Thursday April 10th at 7:30. If there is sufficient interest, a third discussion will be held on Sunday the 13th.
Please plan to attend one of these sessions and voice your thoughts about the Sanctuary space. Later in April, the Worship Committee will consolidate these ideas and recommendations and present them to the Board for a final decision.
In the meantime, if you have comments or questions on this topic, please speak with Tom D’Avanzo, Chair of the Worship Committee.
March 2008
The newest plans have arrived from the architect, Lou Allevato:
Conceptual Design Elevations I (260k PDF)
Conceptual Design Elevations II (285k PDF)
Conceptual Design Perspective (5.71mb PDF)
Conceptual Design Perspective (View of Entrance) (8.72mb PDF)
Conceptual Design Plan (Roof Plan) (126k PDF)
Conceptual Design Plan (Ground Floor) (409k PDF)
Conceptual Design Plan (Upper Floor) (343k PDF)
Animation (14.3mb, AVI)
March 2008
About four years ago (it feels like it was as long as “once upon a time long, long ago”), the beginnings of what was to become the AIM Committee were doing our check-in at a meeting. I reported that I felt quite adrift, having been routed from my office at the Sharon Community Center, into a trailer, due to the building being deemed structurally unsound. As social worker for the Council on Aging, my work necessitates contact with the older folks of the community but I was now shut away in a trailer with our programs spread about the community. The happily ever after (I hope) is that one month ago, we moved back to the Community Center to a beautiful, spacious, totally accessible space. The Center is alive with activity and the space feels comfortable and like we have come home.
What does this have to do with our own expansion and accessibility plan? For me, who tends to be a bit of a skeptic, it has allowed me to believe our own beautiful, comfortable and accessible addition can happen . The people of the Town of Sharon took a bit of a leap of faith and voted for the money to renovate the Community Center and it now shows itself to have been well worth it. We will be needing to do the same and I am confident that we join together to make it happen.
Susan Edinger
Read Project AIM News from March 2007-February 2008
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