Progress To Date
- We own our land and we have preliminary site plan permits
- The land was chosen based on research with included a study of regional and regional Jewish demographics, examination of over one hundred properties, and the fulfillment of every one of seven board requested criteria
- We have easements for access during construction and we have the easement to move the existing road. The slope of the land is actually more significant than it appears to the eye so developing the grading plan has been a major endeavor and is now complete.
- We contracted Richard Brown and Associates as our architect
- Brown and his team have done preliminary design work, which has been presented at several meetings, and their drawings are on display at the learning center
- Brown and Co’s designs were based on a series of interviews and research that they have preformed with members and staff, in studying our use of space, values, and other factors that play into designing a synagogue
- We have a septic system designed and drain fields are located. These will be fully grassed and landscaped.
- A sewer system does not exist yet but the location of the septic system is such that when the sewer system comes we will be able to hook up with a minimum of additional future construction cost.
- An owners representative has been hired
- Launched an extensive and successful capital campaign that has to date pledged close to $3 million from 70 families.
Recent Developments
I do not want to disappoint anyone because I could go on and on about septic, storm water disposal etc. but I am not sure I want to provide all this exciting information at once. So I will save a bit for future columns.
Our architectural team, Richard Brown and Associates have been hard at work for quite a while. There are drawings on display at the Learning Center for anyone to study. We recently hired an owner’s representative, Don Hynes with CPM to represent the congregational interests during the final design and construction phases. He has been working with the architect to find more ways to make our new home enduring, sustainable, low maintenance while keeping the beauty and spirituality that we have said we wanted from the very beginning.
Even as the design team has sketched out several square footage scenarios, the basic floor plan and functionality remain consistent. We will have:
- A school with 6 classrooms,
- Administration area with 4 offices,
- A sanctuary that seats about 200
- An adjoining social hall that can accommodate sit down meals for 200 or can be used to seat an additional 400 for overflow in services or for special events.
Alignment Phase
We are now in what might be called the alignment phase of the project. We must align the design demands, as calculated by our research on the congregation’s needs and future needs, with the pledges and foundational donation so that the align the need to have a synagogue that meets today’s and tomorrow’s needs, and is within our community’s means. We also have a Mother Nature alignment. To begin major construction, we need the ground to dry.
We are close to the point where our capital campaign and building cost projections will be aligned. In addition to the architectural team and the owner’s representative, our general contractor Robertson and Olson has been very helpful and effective with ideas that will make for a better building as well as build the beautiful home we all want.
Please contact me with your questions
While I may not always be able to answer all of your questions, if you have something on your mind please send me an email at email hidden; JavaScript is required and I will be sure that if I cannot answer your question it will go to someone who can.
B’Shalom,
Cheryl
We have begun! Members of our congregation are beginning the exciting work of creating a permanent physical home for our community. Guiding this work are the principles of Community, Sustainability, Responsibility, and Sanctuary.
Grown from the input received from the entire congregation, every decision made on our journey will consciously reflect these principles. Above all, our vision of Home will influence every aspect of this process as we transform our dream of a building into the reality of a synagogue.
