As the end of the year approaches, the Parish Community Center Committee wishes to thank all the participants in our building process-from our original feasibility study committee, to the volunteer architects led by Kathleen Moriarty who developed the original program specifications, to the more than 20 "ambassadors" who represented our many parish ministries in working with MTFA Architecture on our long-range goals, to our Capital Campaign workers headed by Jane McCarthy, to the many parishioners who provided feedback during the two design review opportunities. Over one hundred parishioners have participated in planning for the Parish Center, and enhancements to the original specifications have been a major result of that input. Some of these additions include:
- 2nd floor tie in to the school to provide for handicapped accessibility for the school as well as interior access to the center.
- Enclosed Narthex linking the school, community center, church and extending to the Parish office.
- Renovations to the Upper Room to accommodate Mass overflow seating.
- Sprinklers in the Sanctuary as trade off for additional required firewalls between church and parish center, which enables us to retain the stained glass Resurrection window.
- Enhanced roof form.
- Mezzanine above gym to provide viewing area, gym offices and storage.
- Sustainability/environmental
objectives.
MTFA Architecture has been in contact with various Arlington County agencies regarding county requirements. New and revised Chesapeake Bay regulations (which have just been established this year), for example, will have direct additional cost impacts on the Center. And because St. Charles is on a tight urban site, the zoning administrator is looking closely at our project to see how it conforms with street setback requirements and parking specifications. His interim finding is that parking will not need to be increased, and we are awaiting final word on street setback requirements.
Cost Estimates
MTFA Architecture also has been working with professional estimators and with Diocesan staff to prepare a detailed (i.e. line-by-line) cost estimate of the entire project. Due to the additions mentioned above, the estimators' report revises the project upwards from $4.68 to $5.045 million (not including 4.5% market escalation and 10% project contingency, for an estimated total project cost of 5.4 million).
Recommendations of the Parish Community Center Committee
The Committee acknowledges that as good stewards it must be pragmatic. Therefore, it has decided that the construction of the Narthex will be limited in this phase but maintained on the parish's master plan. The Committee further has determined that the purchase of the accordion doors to sub-divide the social hall will be deferred (keeping the infrastructure needed to allow for folding doors in the future), and the accordion doors for the large meeting room will be replaced by a permanent wall. The Committee is continuing to work on reductions in other areas that are not vital to the program that would lead to more cost savings and will be working on refining furnishing costs in the near future.
Capital Campaign
To date, 996 parish households and friends of St. Charles have participated in the Capital Campaign. They have pledged $2,730,533 with contributions of $1,586,189 received to date.
Next Steps
Recognizing the parish community's expressed need and strong support for the project, the Parish Center Committee remains committed to moving ahead with plans to break ground in June 2002. In order to do so, we must fulfill the Diocesan requirement of having 40% of the total project cost in cash prior to soliciting construction bids.
Thus, we encourage those who have not yet participated in the Build the Spirit campaign to do so. Others can assist by increasing their existing pledges and/or making year-end contributions to the Campaign. Active participation will ensure that fund-raising goals are met and the project timetable remains on track.
Finally, thank you for your support and please continue to remember the Parish Center project in your prayers.
