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West Side Presbyterian Church
Seattle,
Washington
About WSPC > Connections: Building for Community > Town Hall FAQs (2/5/06)
Frequently Asked Questions
West Side Building Project & Capital Campaign - 2006
- Can you summarize this building project for me?
- Why do we need this building project?
- Why are we not building on the new property next door?
- What will we do with the new property until we build on it?
- How much will this project cost?
- Have we gotten competitive bids on this project?
- Is it worth it to spend $1.5 million to relieve congestion on Sunday mornings?
- Wouldn’t it be better to spend $1.5 million on missions?
- Isn’t most of the building already handicapped-accessible?
- How will this project improve accessibility for those with special needs?
- Are there “life-safety” and code issues being addressed in this project?
- Are we losing or gaining classroom / meeting space?
- Are we losing or gaining storage space?
- Are we losing or gaining office space?
- How will the relocation of offices affect our staff?
- What benefit will there be for our outreach / ministry in enlarging the community space by our front entrance?
- Couldn’t we just address the accessibility issues (ie. elevator) and leave everything else the same?
- Why do we need a Stewardship Consultant?
- Will we have to borrow money to complete this project?
1. Can you summarize this building project for me?
Basically we plan to open up the entryway to create space for fellowship and community-building activities; improve accessibility for crowds and special needs by adding an elevator and widening corridors; consolidate the offices in the area at the top of the stairs and connect them with the front entry by an opening in the ceiling; and improve the efficiency of the kitchen, classrooms and storage space.
2. Why do we need this building project?
Our building has been maintained in excellent condition for over 50 years, but changing needs and a changing community require some changes in our facility to help accomplish what we believe God is calling us to do today. West Side is a dynamic community in which lives are being transformed. But to build that sense of community, so lacking in our society today, we need space where people can gather for informal conversation and interaction [see # 16]. In addition, much of the building is difficult or impossible for those with special needs to access. We have a moral obligation to keep them safe and include them in the full life of the community. Further, increased ministry has called for increased staff, requiring work space to be taken from classrooms or “tucked in” wherever possible. We need to organize and use our space more efficiently.
3. Why are we not building on the new property next door?
After surveying the congregation and assessing our needs, we believe we do not need to build on the property we acquired in order to accommodate our current ministries. Good stewardship seems to require that we first use our current facility as efficiently as possible. We acquired the property adjacent to the church when it became available, in order to control what happened there and to avoid having something built there that might have a negative affect on our church and our ministries. It also gives us an opportunity to use the property in the future to accommodate creative new ministries if the need arises.
4. What will we do with the new property until we build on it?
We will continue to maintain the property and rent it as housing. Based on an estimated useful life of 15 years, we have painted and are making improvements to the roof, windows, insulation, and heating system in order to provide safe, affordable housing to persons in need. Rental income has helped underwrite some planning costs. We also may utilize part of the basement for church storage.
5. How much will this project cost?
The most recent construction cost estimates were prepared by our construction general contractor with input from his subcontractors, and are based upon the Design Development drawings prepared by our architect at the end of October. If all of the desired improvements are built, the total construction cost will be about $1.5 million.
6. Have we gotten competitive bids on this project?
So far we have not obtained competitive bids for this project. We believe we will obtain the best value and quality project by working with a general contractor that we know and trust. We have selected Winquist Construction for that role. Having worked with them in the past on the remodels to the Nursery and Sanctuary, we have been very pleased with their responsiveness and fairness and with the quality of their work. Winquist will obtain competitive bids for some parts of the project.
7. Is it worth it to spend $1.5 million to relieve congestion on Sunday mornings?
Of course not, although that is a nice side benefit and could eliminate some liability risks. But obviously the project covers many more important things we believe will greatly enhance our ministry and mission. [See # 1 & 2 above.] After comparing with similar projects in other churches, we have been pleased with the cost estimate.
8. Wouldn’t it be better to spend $1.5 million on missions?
Every mission is ultimately local. West Side is first of all called to mission here in West Seattle. The project is intended to help us do that more effectively. As we become a healthier community, our vision grows for mission beyond our borders as well, and West Side is continuing to increase our support of national and foreign missions. Only a healthy community can support missions generously.
9. Isn’t most of the building already handicapped-accessible?
No, unfortunately not. People with special needs are mostly limited to the street level and activities hosted there. The upper level is not accessible. The lower level is not technically accessible, as the ramp is steeper than ADA allows and puts special needs persons at risk. And in any case it can only be approached by exiting the building and circling through the alley, which is inconvenient, time-consuming, and exposes people to the elements.
10. How will this project improve accessibility for those with special needs?
The elevator will access all three floors, and corridors will be widened to allow ease of movement and quick egress in emergencies. In addition, a new handicapped-accessible, unisex restroom on the main floor will enable privacy for those requiring assistance.
11. Are there “life-safety” and code issues being addressed in this project?
Absolutely. One of the positive consequences of this project will be to make our building safer, and to bring significant parts of the building into compliance with current codes. The rearrangement of space will improve emergency exit routes in many parts of the building, and a sprinkling system will be installed throughout the southern half of the building (the kitchen, Howell Auditorium, the library, the chapel, the nursery, the Sunday School rooms and hallways on both levels).
12. Are we losing or gaining classroom / meeting space?
The total amount of classroom/meeting space remains about the same. We will eliminate classroom 308 on the upper level, but replace it with a new, slightly larger conference room on the same level. We will eliminate classroom 309 in the east wing, but will enlarge and improve access to Lewis Hall on the lower level. The new “reception” area in the east wing on the main floor will be designed to be able to be closed off from the entry and foyer, so it can be used as classroom space, but probably not on Sunday mornings. If the first worship service time is adjusted to allow for more fellowship time before Sunday School, however, it will become easier to utilize both Boppell Parlor and the Sanctuary for adult Sunday School classes.
13. Are we losing or gaining storage space?
The issue is not how much storage space we have, but how we use it and where it is located. We are eliminating some storage areas and creating others. Within the proposed plan we have quite a bit of flexibility in the size and configuration of storage areas, and in the near future we will be refining the design of these areas in concert with those who use them. In addition we may utilize storage from the apartments.
14. Are we losing or gaining office space?
We are increasing the amount of office and workroom space by almost 400 square feet in order to accommodate increased staff and a far larger volume of print communications.
15. How will the relocation of offices affect our staff?
The new arrangement will be far more efficient, and allow better interaction. It will also allow staff to remain close to the front entrance and center of activity.
16. What benefit will there be for our outreach / ministry in enlarging the community space by our front entrance?
One of West Side’s great strengths is that we are a dynamic community in which lives are being transformed. This space, which will be the most obvious change, is entirely about creating and nurturing community. The whole idea will be to avoid a sterile, institutional entrance and create a warm, inviting space to which people are naturally drawn upon entering the building. It should feel like the living room in your home, a place for more intimate conversation and interaction – a place to sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy your friends, or meet new friends – a place to which you will want to return. First impressions are crucial for outreach. Newcomers consistently tell us they were drawn to West Side because of our facility, but stayed because of our community.
We are already making plans to adjust the Sunday morning schedule to allow time for fellowship and interaction following worship. Not only will you be able to stop and talk without impeding the movement of others, but community space will be used to greet and help orient new visitors. Adequate space will be made available for those promoting various activities and ministries. Convenient receptions may follow special activities, or the space may be closed off for classes or private gatherings. We foresee using the space during the week as either an elder or youth “drop-in center.” And you will be encouraged to be creative in designing other activities which will use this space at the very heart of our West Side community.
17. Couldn’t we just address the accessibility issues (ie. elevator) and leave everything else the same?
We could possibly do that, but it would still require significant new construction and reconfiguration of existing spaces in order to provide access to the elevator on all three levels. Also, it would probably still require that a sprinkling system be installed in the southern half of the building. And of course it would not address other issues we feel are also vitally important.
18. Why do we need a Stewardship Consultant?
The scope of this project is significantly larger than anything we have attempted before. Obviously some of our members are mature believers who will give sacrificially on their own initiative. But a large number are newer or younger Christians who have not learned everything the Bible has to say about stewardship, and have never been challenged to consider the sort of sacrifice God might ask of a true disciple. If we believe the scriptures, we owe each of them this opportunity to grow in discipleship and learn something of the joy of giving [see 2 Corinthians 8 & 9]. It became obvious early on that no matter how we approached it, this project would require an enormous amount of time and expertise from anyone called upon to direct it. We knew of no one either on staff or in the congregation with this amount of time and expertise. Hiring a consultant is a particularly efficient way of enlarging our staff for this particular aspect of our ministry. In addition, with this consultant firm comes a wealth of resources we may use to educate ourselves on stewardship and communicate the details of the project. Our assessment was that RSI is not only the largest and most successful stewardship consulting firm, but it is fundamentally Biblical in its approach. While it is time-consuming, a great strength of their program is how they inform and mobilize the vast majority of the congregation, giving each of us an opportunity to share in something very special happening at West Side.
19. Will we have to borrow money to complete this project?
Because the planned stewardship campaign calls for contributions over three years, we will need to borrow funds on an interim basis to fund construction costs. Three years allows most of us to adjust our assets as necessary to support the project as God directs us. But we will all be challenged to contribute a significant portion of our gifts at the outset. This multiplies our gift, as it minimizes the cost of financing. What financing is required will likely be done through a commercial bank, although other options are being considered.