Aug. 5 & 21, 2008 Sept. 2 & 16, 2008 Oct. 9 & 23, 2008
Building Team Meetings. The addition of Vicki O'Neal to the Building team has been a tremendous
asset. Vicki brings with her interior design knowledge and the ability to a develop plans via the CAD
system. With Vicki's expertise, we are able to more walls around on the computer and to try different
scenarios for the building plans. This has allowed the Building Team to look at many options in the
effort to come up with the "perfect" plans for the present
and near future needs of our growing church.
July 17, 2008
Building Team Meeting. Had an excellent meeting tonight. With recent comments and concerns from
church members, we're now looking at the possibility of two major changes (from the most recent
plans that many people have seen).
1. A more "user friendly" location for the 3 person elevator. Just getting to church for a handicapped
person is enough of a challenge, we don't want them facing another challenge getting into the
sanctuary from our parking lot.
2. Re-defining how the upstairs kitchen is to be used. We're now leaning towards having a "galley
kitchen" upstairs that will strictly be used for Fellowship coffee and light refreshments after the Sunday
services. This kitchen in all probability would not have a stove but rather a large microwave (used to
re-heat items if necessary). This galley kitchen would also have a dishwasher. The kitchen design
and storage will be based totally upon the needs to service the Fellowship coffee, with traffic flow
being of utmost importance. The large gathering area for the Fellowship coffee will consist mostly of
the smaller 42" tall bistro type tables that people would stand at. There would be no chairs in this
area for people to "camp out." Chairs and tables would be out on the deck for people to sit if they so
desired. No eating or drinking would be allowed in the Sanctuary whatsoever.
The downstairs kitchen and Fellowship Hall is being re-designed to accommodate larger crowds and
events: thing's like quarterly "pot luck" dinners, social events (dances, movies, Bingo, etc.), and
special events like Papa's Spaghetti Dinner. The large Fellowship Hall would be approx.
25' X 40' and would have closets for table and chair storage. As is the case in the present set of
plans, this large fellowship hall on the ground floor opens up to the front of the church with two French
doors and a covered portico area. The AA meetings on Saturday morning would be held in this new
fellowship hall.
Attached to this large fellowship hall is a full service kitchen designed to handle large functions.
There would be plenty of storage for kitchen equipment and plenty of storage for food products. This
kitchen would easily accommodate 4-5 people preparing food at one time.
As more members of our church make their thoughts known, we are listening and trying to making
"everything" work together. Change is good; the direction we're moving in is excellent. God's in
charge and we all know that everything is eventually going to be "as it should be."
July 3, 2008
Just received the new plans from Bill Laslett showing the Phase 2 plans connected to Phase 1.
Click on Phase 1 & 2 Combined Plans. Camera pictures were taken of these plans and then
converted to PDF files to get them on this website ASAP. Eventually these plans will be scanned with
the proper equipment.
When you open this PDF file, you will need to scroll down to see all three pages: the 1st floor, the
Ground Floor, and the Front Elevation.
June 13, 2008
Meeting at church concerning the moving of the house next door.
In attendance: Mr. Van Garber - Habitat for Humanity
Ms. Lyn Gregory - Habitat for Humanity
Mr. Garland Curtis - Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Ms. Candice Street - Virginia Supportive Housing
Bill Laslett - Church Architect
Rev. Joyce, Rusty Rothrock, Cheryll Weis
This was a very good meeting with open discussion concerning the gifting of the house next door.
The church would like to give the house as a love offering to Habitat for Humanity for one of their
needing families. The problem that Habitat has at this time is two-fold :
1. They don't have a vacant lot that is close to our church at the present time.
2. They don't have the necessary funds to pay a house mover (approx. $40,000), plus the
additional funds needed to rehab the house once it's moved to a new location.
Habitat is more than happy to accept funds from outside sources to accomplish all of the above. In a
effort to think "out of the box" we all did some brain storming as to possible corporations or
organizations who might be interested in "saving a house" (a Green marketing opportunity) along with
"helping a family".
Anyone out there that might have some contacts and / or ideas, please let us know.
May 8, 2008
Building Team meeting with Bill Laslett (our architect). Topics of discussion :
1. Rear Elevations. Bill showed us some rear elevations of the church expansion for the very first
time. This consisted of the rear gable extension of the Sanctuary that looks just like the front facade
of the Sanctuary expansion. Another gable roof for the new bathroom facilities protrudes out from the
rear of the existing kitchen. In between these two gable structures (connecting the two) is a shed roof
that encompasses the kitchen and the reception area. Please refer to the First Floor Plan to get a
better sense of the spaces involved. As soon as these rear elevations become available, they will be
posted on this site.
2. Front Left Hand side expansion. With the capital campaign going so well, we had a open
discussion concerning the possibility of including the building of Phase II in with the construction of
Phase I. As most people are aware, Phase I consists of enlarging the existing Administration Office by
including the space from the two exiting bathrooms. Phase II consists of building a matching gable
addition on the front left hand side of the church. This wing would look similar in size as the right
hand side sanctuary expansion but it would have different window arrangements and a different
facade. In Phase II, the new Administrative office (of Phase I) would be turned into a new bookstore
with glass windows facing the main foyer.
The new wing would consist of a good size Administrative office with individual work areas (and copier
center), a new Assistant Minister's office, and possibly enough space for a new Secretarial office that
connects to both Joyce's office and to the new Assistant Minister's office. If we could at least get this
wing framed up, totally enclosed, windows installed, exterior facade on, roof on, and HVAC installed, it
would be fantastic. The finishing of this wing would occur as money is available (after the completion
of the Sanctuary expansion). The ground floor of this wing would be left unfinished as well. It just
makes sense to include this wing with Phase I, as opposed to building this wing within a short time
frame after finishing Phase I. The fact is, the church needs this valuable space right now, not 3-5
years from now. Framing up Phase II with the Phase I construction would also be very cost effective
and would save us money (when compared to tearing out and building later).
Bill Laslett will be working on preliminary costs of this Phase II addition. The size of this wing is 775 sq
ft. X two floors = 1,500 sq. ft. Using $125 sq. ft. would be around $200,000 for a 100% completed
wing. Getting footings installed, brick & block foundation walls up, exterior walls and windows set,
roof and shingles on, exterior facade (siding), and HVAC installed...should all be less than $100,000
to do.
The plans for Phase II will be included in this website very soon. Check back often.
May 1, 2008
Our Master Plan designer, Andrew Bowman from Balzer & Associates, reports that thing's are moving
ahead nicely with the Chesterfield County Planning Department.
The County Planning review team consists of the following departments : Planning, Zoning, Virginia
Department of Transportation, Environmental, Fire Department, etc.
Andrew hopes that the final reviews will be occurring by the early part of June with final approval
shortly thereafter.
Building Team Meetings. The addition of Vicki O'Neal to the Building team has been a tremendous
asset. Vicki brings with her interior design knowledge and the ability to a develop plans via the CAD
system. With Vicki's expertise, we are able to more walls around on the computer and to try different
scenarios for the building plans. This has allowed the Building Team to look at many options in the
effort to come up with the "perfect" plans for the present
and near future needs of our growing church.
July 17, 2008
Building Team Meeting. Had an excellent meeting tonight. With recent comments and concerns from
church members, we're now looking at the possibility of two major changes (from the most recent
plans that many people have seen).
1. A more "user friendly" location for the 3 person elevator. Just getting to church for a handicapped
person is enough of a challenge, we don't want them facing another challenge getting into the
sanctuary from our parking lot.
2. Re-defining how the upstairs kitchen is to be used. We're now leaning towards having a "galley
kitchen" upstairs that will strictly be used for Fellowship coffee and light refreshments after the Sunday
services. This kitchen in all probability would not have a stove but rather a large microwave (used to
re-heat items if necessary). This galley kitchen would also have a dishwasher. The kitchen design
and storage will be based totally upon the needs to service the Fellowship coffee, with traffic flow
being of utmost importance. The large gathering area for the Fellowship coffee will consist mostly of
the smaller 42" tall bistro type tables that people would stand at. There would be no chairs in this
area for people to "camp out." Chairs and tables would be out on the deck for people to sit if they so
desired. No eating or drinking would be allowed in the Sanctuary whatsoever.
The downstairs kitchen and Fellowship Hall is being re-designed to accommodate larger crowds and
events: thing's like quarterly "pot luck" dinners, social events (dances, movies, Bingo, etc.), and
special events like Papa's Spaghetti Dinner. The large Fellowship Hall would be approx.
25' X 40' and would have closets for table and chair storage. As is the case in the present set of
plans, this large fellowship hall on the ground floor opens up to the front of the church with two French
doors and a covered portico area. The AA meetings on Saturday morning would be held in this new
fellowship hall.
Attached to this large fellowship hall is a full service kitchen designed to handle large functions.
There would be plenty of storage for kitchen equipment and plenty of storage for food products. This
kitchen would easily accommodate 4-5 people preparing food at one time.
As more members of our church make their thoughts known, we are listening and trying to making
"everything" work together. Change is good; the direction we're moving in is excellent. God's in
charge and we all know that everything is eventually going to be "as it should be."
July 3, 2008
Just received the new plans from Bill Laslett showing the Phase 2 plans connected to Phase 1.
Click on Phase 1 & 2 Combined Plans. Camera pictures were taken of these plans and then
converted to PDF files to get them on this website ASAP. Eventually these plans will be scanned with
the proper equipment.
When you open this PDF file, you will need to scroll down to see all three pages: the 1st floor, the
Ground Floor, and the Front Elevation.
June 13, 2008
Meeting at church concerning the moving of the house next door.
In attendance: Mr. Van Garber - Habitat for Humanity
Ms. Lyn Gregory - Habitat for Humanity
Mr. Garland Curtis - Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Ms. Candice Street - Virginia Supportive Housing
Bill Laslett - Church Architect
Rev. Joyce, Rusty Rothrock, Cheryll Weis
This was a very good meeting with open discussion concerning the gifting of the house next door.
The church would like to give the house as a love offering to Habitat for Humanity for one of their
needing families. The problem that Habitat has at this time is two-fold :
1. They don't have a vacant lot that is close to our church at the present time.
2. They don't have the necessary funds to pay a house mover (approx. $40,000), plus the
additional funds needed to rehab the house once it's moved to a new location.
Habitat is more than happy to accept funds from outside sources to accomplish all of the above. In a
effort to think "out of the box" we all did some brain storming as to possible corporations or
organizations who might be interested in "saving a house" (a Green marketing opportunity) along with
"helping a family".
Anyone out there that might have some contacts and / or ideas, please let us know.
May 8, 2008
Building Team meeting with Bill Laslett (our architect). Topics of discussion :
1. Rear Elevations. Bill showed us some rear elevations of the church expansion for the very first
time. This consisted of the rear gable extension of the Sanctuary that looks just like the front facade
of the Sanctuary expansion. Another gable roof for the new bathroom facilities protrudes out from the
rear of the existing kitchen. In between these two gable structures (connecting the two) is a shed roof
that encompasses the kitchen and the reception area. Please refer to the First Floor Plan to get a
better sense of the spaces involved. As soon as these rear elevations become available, they will be
posted on this site.
2. Front Left Hand side expansion. With the capital campaign going so well, we had a open
discussion concerning the possibility of including the building of Phase II in with the construction of
Phase I. As most people are aware, Phase I consists of enlarging the existing Administration Office by
including the space from the two exiting bathrooms. Phase II consists of building a matching gable
addition on the front left hand side of the church. This wing would look similar in size as the right
hand side sanctuary expansion but it would have different window arrangements and a different
facade. In Phase II, the new Administrative office (of Phase I) would be turned into a new bookstore
with glass windows facing the main foyer.
The new wing would consist of a good size Administrative office with individual work areas (and copier
center), a new Assistant Minister's office, and possibly enough space for a new Secretarial office that
connects to both Joyce's office and to the new Assistant Minister's office. If we could at least get this
wing framed up, totally enclosed, windows installed, exterior facade on, roof on, and HVAC installed, it
would be fantastic. The finishing of this wing would occur as money is available (after the completion
of the Sanctuary expansion). The ground floor of this wing would be left unfinished as well. It just
makes sense to include this wing with Phase I, as opposed to building this wing within a short time
frame after finishing Phase I. The fact is, the church needs this valuable space right now, not 3-5
years from now. Framing up Phase II with the Phase I construction would also be very cost effective
and would save us money (when compared to tearing out and building later).
Bill Laslett will be working on preliminary costs of this Phase II addition. The size of this wing is 775 sq
ft. X two floors = 1,500 sq. ft. Using $125 sq. ft. would be around $200,000 for a 100% completed
wing. Getting footings installed, brick & block foundation walls up, exterior walls and windows set,
roof and shingles on, exterior facade (siding), and HVAC installed...should all be less than $100,000
to do.
The plans for Phase II will be included in this website very soon. Check back often.
May 1, 2008
Our Master Plan designer, Andrew Bowman from Balzer & Associates, reports that thing's are moving
ahead nicely with the Chesterfield County Planning Department.
The County Planning review team consists of the following departments : Planning, Zoning, Virginia
Department of Transportation, Environmental, Fire Department, etc.
Andrew hopes that the final reviews will be occurring by the early part of June with final approval
shortly thereafter.
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