To understand the implication, our church has 5 levels, as there are two levels for the sanctuary, and then  the CD wing, which has 3 levels and does not line up.

In addition, the building is an old building, so a member who is an architect  did a fabulous job of design, so that , well, it is  great. 

We have a great location..and, well, I am thrilled.

That indeed is good news, Pinga; glad to hear it.  I kind of get nostalgic over older church buildings, they have a kind of history and heritage that just can'ty be replicated (although, I'll also be the first to admit that there are some old eyesores that are just begging to be taken down... but that's another thread.)  To make such a building accessable to all is a great achievement.  Thanks for sharing.

Yay!  That's fantastic news!

My church is also becoming fully accessible this summer!  We're putting in a lift, several powered doors, renovating many washrooms, and even putting in a parking lot!  (Right now, we use the large parking lot across the street, which doesn't belong to us, and it can be quite treacherous to walk across in Winter -- and it can also be very far for those who have mobility issues.)  This has been a project nearly a decade in the making, but this is the year it happens!

We lucked out with the city putting a new city hall across from us, and closing off the street.  We have a wonderful entrance and parking lot compliments of the city.

Come as you are.... All Are Welcome

I hope by the fall, we can say that boh Youthworkers, and our church, and others are on their way to accessability and inclusivity

What kind of a dollar figure are you looking at? Source of funds? Scope of project? Accessible covers a lot of realestate.

Total project = $180,00

LUA elevator is the most expensive portion:  $130,000 which includes the shaft work.

Includes such items as reloaction of office and accessable washrooms on main floor.

More work will follow, as we extend into other areas, or adjust doors into some rooms, etc; however, it by far is the biggest part.

oh, and it includes a new entrance into our sanctuary, such that when you arrive off the elevator on the sanctary level you are in a lobby like area, with double doors going into the sanctuary.

source of funds: put it this way, we can  do it.  We will need some bridge type financing, and also awaiting finalization of some other areas (will speak to when i can)...(the AGM will also have a motion to do a capital campagin as the bricks/mortars are going; however, the motion for that was placed on hold until AGM, until more info could be acquired.  

There will be approvals required by presbytery, etc, as well; however, gosh this is one big step ...

oh, and yes, we are not talking about all accessability, ie we won't have hearing stuff yet, won't have visual...but, heh, let me celebrate a bit, k?

Hey, it's definitely a mjor step in the right direction, Pinga.  Go ahead and celebrate for now.

Definitely worth celebrating Pinga. Thanks for sharing this.

Congratulations to your congregation Pinga.

That is excellent news Pinga. Where will the elevator be? Will it be on the city hall side of the church?

We have discussed accessibility for our church building for some time. It seems that there all manner of obstacles for this in our building. Our congregation has started by having coffee in the sanctuary so that at least everyone can participate there. Other activities in the basement are a challenge because the stairs are steep and..........well, you know, there are always excuses/reasons. It is hopeful that your church has found a way to overcome your challenges, because it would  not be easy to make your church accessible.

Thanks for sharing your news!

That is Good News. I LOVED that video too.

Here is one Singing at the 2008 Annual meeting of the conference of Manitoba and Norhtwestern Ontario

News like this restores and strengthens my faith.  So I give thanks to you Pinga and the other members of your congregations.

Northwind...

Yes, you would come in  the entrance frm the City Hall side...(Cambridge st),

straight ahead is  the church office  / phtocopy room.....they would move and a large entrance way & the  elevator would go there...

Upper flow loses the teen youth room , lowest floor loses part of a large church school room.

thanks alex.

I was thinking of you when I posted

Thanks Pinga. That makes a lot of sense. Your church has so many levels, the architect deserves a bunch of kudos for figuring that out!

Great news Pinga - I don't mind a bit that you're sharing it! 

It's a big challenge indeed making some of these great old buildings physically accessible.  So kudos to your congregation for getting behind the project.  Having the will is the biggest step ... the rest will fall into place.

Loved the video!

Nothing like a huge undertaking to bring people together to share a common goal and have something to work toward - hope all goes well with these renovations and improvements to your church building.

Northwind, you likely know the architect..he's a member of the congregation.  He has created drawings which we never had before, and done a ton of work.  We are very blessed.

(note: we also had the wider church's architect review the building a year who was really impressed with the quality and state of repair.)

Alex -- Thanks for posting that video!  I was there and that was a great celebration!

(I'm the guy in the blue t-shirt with his back to the camera at the 18 second mark.)

Congrats and good luck!

It's heartening to see churches making the effort. My UU church lucked out a bit in that we are in a 1 story former commercial building so just had to add ramps and fix up some doors (including automating them). No elevators or other fancy equipment needed. Out big lesson was when our first interim minister arrived a couple years ago and needed a scooter to around (her regular ministry is community ministry to people with disabilities). She quickly picked some holes in our earlier efforts at accessibility and her requirements forced some hasty changes to the church, including a new lectern custom built for her  to enable her to preach from her chair (she took the new lectern with her when she left).

Mendalla

That's a cool image I have Mendalla ... your minister whizzing off in her scooter, custom made lecturn tied to the back ... makes me giggle.   

It is an important point though ... to check with potential users to get their input on changes before spending money.   What they see as priority, and effective, can be different than able bodied folks imagine sometimes.

You look good in blue Youthworker!!

Interesting story with my church - Originally built in the late fifties, it burned down a few years after it was constructed. Fortunately, no one was injured, even though the junior choir was rehearsing in the basement Sunday school rooms at the time. So when they rebuilt, everything was on one floor - no basements, and ground level access to all parts of the church. We have a number of disabled parishioners, for whom this works well, not to mention the fact that our seniors don't need to climb stairs.  Someone once commented that the church building burning down was the best thing that ever happened to it (structurally at least)!

Just wanted to share that as of last night, we have approval of Presbytery and the Extension Council.  Sweet...

One more step along the world I go; from the old things to the new keep me traveling along with you:

That is most excellent news Pinga.

 Very Cool.

We have all the documents completed. 

We have verbal confirmation that we will recieve the funds.

Now, the actual work starts to be planned out, with timing, and specifics, ie sub-contractors.  It will be done this summer. 

Our committee is moving the church school classrooms configuration over March break to make room for the construction!

Happy remodelling! I hope it goes well. I look forward to seeing the finished product next time I am in town.

youthworker -- how goes your project?

anyone else making accessability changes?

Our project is going well.  It's in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment because we're waiting to hear on some major grants (which come with the stipulation that construction cannot start till *after* the grant has been awarded).  But, in the meantime, we've lined up all our funding (to cover what's left to cover after the grants) and have gone through the architect / contractor process.  We'll probably get the work done in the summer at the latest.

Hi - I was at Presbytery last night and heard a glimmer of good news (aside from normal 'motions/amendments/amendments to motions/can't vote on an blah blah)

A church got 'something' out of an Emerging Spirit workshop, and went home to notice how dark & looming their presence was on an otherwise cheery, nostalgic mainstreet, so they started a refurbishment project.  One of the main things they did was take out the big old doors and put in sliding ones that open as you approach.  In other words they put in "Open Doors" that actually welcome people inside. 

Among other things, they professionallly landscaped the front & side since they are restricted by historical designation to do much else on part of the church, and have opened up their meeting areas.

People come in and say they thought the church had been inactive since it was so "dark & dingy". 

FYI - for the money, they asked their congregation for a committment of $250 extra each year for 5 years, and 60 families agreed, so that gives a base of $15000, plus the extra that others have given.

We put in a lift, widened some of the church doors, and made one washroom accessible not too long ago.

That sounds lovely birthstone.

Our church has discussed accessibility issues. We do have a ramp to get into the building, so people can come into the sanctuary. Unfortunately, we have a very steep set of stairs going to the basement. They stop a lot of people from going down there for activities which are held there. We share the building with another congregation, and when times were better, we did have good conversations about this. Unfortunately, the building has other structural issues which get in the way as well. Now no one is willing to put money into a building when the "ownership" is under dispute.

Our congregation now holds coffee time in the sanctuary, so that at least everyone has the option to participate. There is a small kitchen off the sanctuary, so it works well.

Another issue is our frontage. It is grey and rather ugly.

There was a suggestion once about opening up the front. The suggestion would make the middle doors the entrance into the building, replacing the two side doors (one on the left is hidden by the tree) While it would make sense, and look lovely, it would also be subject to the same obstacles as the elevator/accessibility project.

How many people will this major undertaking serve?  What percentage of the congregation would use this lift?

one of the realities of churches these days is that if we don't have too many people in need of ramps and lifts, just give us 5 or 10 years.

Northwind: !!!  I also heard at Presbytery (who says its useless??)  about the Engineering Program at UofT and they will pair students up with churches who will work on projects.  You don't pay for the student, or the design (maybe an honourarium??)  and you aren't tied to doing the work, but it gives the student a project to work on for school.

The contact info (lol) was given as "Call UofT".  I'd suggest maybe calling UofT Engineering Dept and asking about the coop program with churches.  That might get you closer :)  You're in Ontario, right?

Well, that would be a good idea if we were anywhere near TO. I used to live there. I am now in BC. We are also quite a distance from the nearest engineering program. I am not even sure if UNBC has one.

whoops :)  I knew there was some Ontario in you!

And here I thought I'd saved the day!!

I just wanted to share with this community coz, i think you will understand my heart tonight.

Earlier this month, our minister went on a leave; however, the congregation is moving through it, and it shouldn't impact the plans.  It was, and will be a kick to our community, but important for our minister to be well, and thankful to those in and around our congregation that are ensuring we can contine to move forward.

On Thursday, a member who has designed and been our property manager, and project manager and draftsmen..and just such a leader...had a serious stroke, and he passed away on Monday.

He was an awesome guy on multiple fronts,...and very private.  Most did not realize he had been fighting cancer, or how serious that fight was..

we received the government cheque for the project on Friday

I am thankful for the guys, including my husband, who honoured his wish of privacy, and now understand the many hours they put in to do some of the big projects at the church.  ..I only wish that the elevator had been done before we lost him.   It feels like he got ripped off...to have come so far..and to not be here for our completing it.

wishing i could change the heading of this thread.

feeling kinda sad tonight.

Pinga, that is very sad news - you started this topic with sharing some good news, and now you are sharing bad news -  that's kinda what life is made of.

I am very sorry to hear of the loss of this man who was a part of your life.  Thinking of you as you and your church family continue to go through challenging circumstances and as you grieve. 
 

Peace be with you . . .

 {{{Hugs}}} Pinga.

Update on the project: as it is important to share the good news.

Our church is a construction site..and has been since late July

What has happened

The flooring in the basement was removed and jackhammered & cement carried up & out.

The washrooms by the two halls (lower level) were removed along with the church school storage / workroom

All new accessable washrooms are studded & plumbed by the two halls (lower level)

The elevator shaft was poured and wired, going from the basement to the upper (CD classroom) floor

On the main floor, the photocopier room is gone, making way for new stairs and ramp up to the sanctuary level.  (The main floor and sanctuary are approx 4' different levels). 

The elevator shaft has two openings, one at the front from the main entrance, and one 4' up higher at the back for the sanctuary level.

A new entrance to the sanctuary has been opened up -- two doors wide, from the elevator /stairwell just mentioned -- think the classic stone churches, with the massive Scottish stone, and you will know this was not just opening up a wall.

The church office has been moved and made smaller, more suitably set up for todays usage.

The ministers office was also made smaller...in the past it was like a living room with a desk, and now it will be more like an office...

On the upper level, the youth room is gone...and the new elevator shaft entrance is there...

The youth have visioned what they want done in their new youth room which was the previous choir room...no longer used, and nice & handy off the hall and for staging plays.

All this time, our church office has been running out of the ladies' parlour and chapel (yeah, i know..the name is old, but you know it has stuck ).

I hope in the spring, that we will be able to invite people to an open house and celebration....it's been a long time coming, but wow it is good to see the actions occurring.

Glad to hear that the construction is happening.  Good news!

TL

Wow, that is excellent. You guys are moving right along. It is hard to picture all the changes. Where is the choir room now?

Pinga - I love good news!   Congratulations to your congregation.  Hard work , prayer and vision is paying off.

Sounds awesome pinga!  Must be very exciting for all of you to see it taking shape so wonderfully. 

Yes, it is carolla....it is fun for the youth to be able to see it.

Northwind, the choir practices in the sanctuary now...and gathers in the chapel.

The stairs coming off Cambridge street into the sanctuary are being closed off, and that area will be a big closet, for such things as worship items and choir gowns.

Wow. I see we are going to have to plan a visit the next time we are in Ontario!

 As of today, our lift passed inspection & is usable.

It is just in time for the Phillip Grant concert at our church tomorrow night.

The work is far from complete;however, this is a huge milestone for our congregation.

The accessable washrooms on the lowest level were complete a while ago...maybe a month or so.  One classroom on the lower level was put back together in time for our carols & choirs event.  One on the upper level has been drywalled & painted but cannot be used until the church school supply room is usable....which won't be done until near the end of the project.

Yay, that is great news. I trust you will be sharing photos soon. I look forward to seeing the renos next time I am in town.