Exciting news from Property Development

Launching Deck project for Spring 2010

Our 2010 goal for Property Development is building the deck. This is will expand our use of the foyer area, give us access to the back yard and enhance our rental revenue potential. We need to raise funds to build the deck which will cost between $15,000 and $20,000 depending on the type of materials used. Each of the projects we undertake with property development needs to be funded independently of our donations towards the operating budget each year.

At some point in the future- when we have less debt or a larger endowment fund we may be in a position to look at other funding options for the larger development projects like the parking lot. But for now we need to go one project at a time and raise the money as we go. Our ability to proceed with the smaller projects is completely based on our energy and commitment to support each project and we will only go forward based on what we are able to support.

We each have a role to play as members of this community and generous contributors of stewardship, finances and sweat equity. Please consider what your gift to this project could be.

We have several fund raising efforts in mind for the deck and look forward to sharing full details with everyone at an open meeting on Sunday January 24th at our launch for this project. Please join for a short 30 minute meeting after coffee time. There will be some light sandwich buns served as part of coffee to help entice your participation at this meeting.

Fund Raising Plans

Fund raising plans include the following:

• Buy a Board – we will create a virtual deck with the sale of individual boards for $100, $50 and $25.
• Silent Auction – many interesting and wonderful items will be offered for bidding and we hope to even have this available online and attract people outside of the church to participate. At the time of writing this submission we are still working on the items and the online process – but intend to have all the details on January 24th.
• Possible dinner or lunch event – more details to follow on this one .
• Special donations – we are hoping a few especially generous people will come forward with donations of a larger amount. We have some early indications of people who may be able to support a donation. We are hoping to raise as much as half of the funding through donation gifts – so please consider what gift you may be able to support this approach.

What will our deck look like?

This deck will be simple platform across the back of the building by the foyer doors. We are restricted in size due to the City bylaws and Waterway permits but we intend to construct the deck as large as we are allowed, which is approximately eight feet out and thirty feet across. There will be wide gracious stairs to the ground level where we plan to have a patio surface that links to the lower level exterior door. There will be railings on each side and in the centre of the stairs as required by commercial code. If we are able to raise enough funds there is a design for nicer metal railings to match the motif at the front of the building- if we are tight on money it will be all wood.

Big thanks to Don Bailey( engineer) who is helping with the permit approval process for the deck, as well as Peter Hill Carrol for consultation on all technical building matters. There is more work happening with this project and we could use a few more people to assist with fund raising efforts. Please talk to Liz Redston or Lois Whyte if you have questions or would like to assist . We also hope to hear from those people who and extra keen and want to make a donation towards our deck!

Thanks everyone. We hope to see you on January 24th.