About Vision 2020
VISION 2020: BOLDLY ENGAGING IN OUR FUTURE
NOTE: For links to the most current documents, scroll to the bottom of this update.
What does the future of St. Mark’s look like to you? And what would it take to get there?
Like every healthy community, St. Mark’s is constantly evolving, as are our needs.In 2009, the Vestry realized that our aging facilities are in need of significant attention and investment. That presented us with an opportunity to consider what we want St. Mark’s to become in terms of our buildings, our programs, and our place in the broader community.
In 2010, we embarked on a journey together to determine how our space can best be renovated and expanded to meet not just our current needs, but to allow for flexibility and growth in the future. Through a comprehensive discernment process, we gathered more than 1,000 dreams from members of the community. We analyzed the state of our buildings and systems; studied the relevant zoning, legal, code and historic preservation issues; and estimated the costs of a variety of possible projects to upgrade our facilities. We examined our relationship with the greater community, finding that numerous opportunities exist for St. Mark's to meet more needs in the community; and we explored ways our facilities could function with less impact on, and be more respectful of, the environment.
This process led us to identify the following goals for any renovation and/or expansion plan:
1) To preserve our historic property, while renewing our existing space, enhancing our mission, and providing for the future of our community.
2) To implement sustainable systems throughout our facilities, demonstrating our respect for the world in which we live, and upholding our commitment to sustainability as a core value.
3) To make our spaces more welcoming, accessible and available to our members, guests and the needs of our community.
4) To create additional space for our programs, with the flexibility to meet currently known and unforeseen future needs, enabling us to better realize our dreams.
5) To strengthen our engagement with and commitment to the community and the world around us.
6) To provide our staff with functional, pleasant space to work that are in one location, easily accessible to our community and the public, safe and secure, and that integrate the staff more fully into the daily workings of the church.
We have put together a terrific team of consultants:
-- Bonstra/Haresign Architects: Jeremy Arnold, lead architect
-- Project Manager Alex Berley of E&G Group
-- Monarc Construction, as our pre-construction advisor
Together, they have designed renovation options that meet our program needs and stay within our budget.
In September 2011, we began raising funds for the project. We had hoped to raise $1.5 million but have been thrilled by the community's response: by February 2012 we had raised more than $1.7 million in pledges.
At the February 26th Vestry meeting, the Steering Committee presented three options: renovating Baxter House (our brownstone office building), digging and completing a new Undercroft beneath the Parish Hall, or adding a second floor in the Parish Hall. Together, the Steering Committee and the Vestry agreed that the entire community needed time to review them, react, and ask questions about all three proposals.
On March 11, the parish gathered for our Annual Meeting. In addition to electing our new Vestry officers and members, we heard from a number of parishioners and, following that, collected questions and comments via our parish e-group. The Steering Committee then set out to respond to the 80+ pages of questions and comments. (These can be found in the document listed at the bottom of this page.)
The Vestry spring retreat found the two groups gathered again, to review the parish questions/comments and to hear our Project Manager’s perspective on the project. On the afternoon of April 14, while in Executive Session, our Vestry voted to return to the original design: to dig and complete a new undercroft, renovate the main floor (including the foyer, parish hall, and kitchen), and install a second floor for offices.
The decision was announced to the parish and the response has been positive. The road ahead will not be easy – we know that the cost of the larger option is more than our current budget, so we will have to reopen the capital campaign and consider possible sources of funds in the months ahead. But it is the option that best meets the key goals listed above.
The parish of St. Mark’s has taken two years to arrive at this decision, but it is one that has strong support and has rallied us to a commitment unseen in our history. We know that the road will be difficult and we face many challenges. But we have also come to realize that, as a community of faith, when the Spirit moves among us, we can do great things, not only for St. Mark’s but for our community as well.
For questions or comments about the project, e-mail stmarkscapitalcampaign@gmail.com.
