For several years, our congregation has been grappling with how to make the building universally accessible to persons of all ages and abilities. Since 2008 there has been steady, if somewhat slow, progress. A report from the provincial Community Places program in May 2008 identified the requirement to re-shingle the roof (done in 2009), to re-seal the bricks on the exterior of the building (done in 2010), and to replace/upgrade the kitchen stoves (still pending) to ensure the building is in adequate condition to qualify for a grant, and to be able to obtain building permits for accessible washrooms and an elevator.
In its 2010 report, "The Place God Calls Us", the Transition Team stated that resolving our space and accessibility issues was one of four key propositions. Also, in his final report, interim pastor Ken Bechtel strongly urged the congregation to get the accessibility project accomplished within the next few years (November 3, 2010). At the 2011 Annual General Meeting, participants described making our building accessible, and increasing our budget to accomplish this, as both a priority and a challenge.
Since last year's AGM, the Accessibility Committee hired a team of consultants to identify specific options and provide cost estimates for an accessibility plan for Home Street Mennonite Church. A draft consultant report received January 5 describes three options for locating an elevator and two options for accessible washrooms.
The plan we are recommending involves many parts:
- Elevator access through the main entrance to the church
- Limited Use Limited Access (LULA) elevator
- New front doors, new sidewalk, and removal of front step
- Limited fire safety improvements
- New accessible women’s and men’s washrooms
- Re-envisioned library as a result of elevator installation
Details on the cost and financing of the accessibility plan will be available at the information meeting on January 18 and will be discussed at the AGM. The recommended plan represents the lowest overall cost of the three design options evaluated because the elevator would be located inside the existing building rather than be part of a larger addition to the south side of the church. At the same time, this plan is a major undertaking, requiring all of us to dig deep into our resources and capabilities.
If the plan is accepted, we propose to finance it through donations from individuals, households and friends of Home Street Church, and a loan. The size of the loan will depend on the amount of money pledged toward the capital cost of the project and whether our grant application to the Community Places program is successful.
There are five documents available here (the first four are also available in the Attachments section below):
