An Update from the Rector
Dear People of Christ Church,
The Capital Campaign Construction Committee has begun meeting after our successful Capital Campaign. Thirty percent of our $5 million goal has been allotted for capital improvements. The vast majority of that is for upgrading the facilities at 470 Maple Street to add accessibility to both the Great Hall and Chapel, ADA bathrooms, new outdoor steps to the Chapel, and new lighting for the Great Hall. One hundred thousand dollars will go over the next five years to adding new plantings to the Churchyard and $40k will go toward a new, small playground next to the patio at Church House.
The first, and most extensive, work to be done is at 470 Maple Street. That work has begun under the direction of our parishioner and architect, John Myefski. John is an internationally award-winning architect who is known locally for his work on the new and old campuses at New Trier High School. John and Patty’s gift to the campaign is all of the architectural work needed to plan and complete the work at 470 Street. Not only is this a generous gift, but commercial construction is quite different than residential and John’s relationships with the Village will be instrumental in executing a successful build.
The Construction Committee consists of parishioners Kevin Walsh (Chair) Carrie Healy, Bob Lind, Cindy Lyman, Christine Peterson, Patrick Rooney, and David Russell. Jim Caldwell, our Buildings Supervisor at Christ Church, is also on the committee for his extensive practical knowledge of the building. The Wardens and Rector will also be closely involved in the project but are not on the committee.
After an initial meeting, the group meets next week on site to cover the scope of the work and begin to process the pricing of each element of the build. John has already completed the design level drawings, and we have preliminary numbers for each area. Our initial estimates were generally accurate, but there will be fine-tuning along the way. In the coming weeks, after the committee confers with John, they will agree on the particulars of the build and start the process of preparing the bid for contractors interested
in the project. At that time, they will give us a preliminary timeline for the work. Their hope is to have everything done by our fall Rummage Sale in 2022. The timing will depend, of course, on a number of things out of our control such as supply chain issues and contractor availability.
We will update the parish with information as soon as it is available. And, as with all construction projects, this will be an excellent exercise in patience as we deal with the inevitable changes and delays which always materialize in a project of this scope.
Faithfully,
Christopher+