Building Renovation Plans
January 2012
In the fall of 2004, MVUC conducted a capital campaign that produced commitments of about $1,280,000 (of which $1,065,000 has been collected). In 2006 the congregation approved plans for an addition to the Meeting House and other improvements. The construction approved in 2006 (substantially reduced from the full-scale design that had been the basis for the capital campaign) included a greatly expanded Commons, a new entryway with larger cloakrooms, and renovated offices, kitchen, and restrooms. In accord with the approved plans, about $300,000 of the Building Fund was used for renovation of Hollin Hall, minor improvements to other buildings, and fund-raising expenses. Another $320,000 was spent to prepare construction documents and obtain County approvals. $4,800 was used to construct a stained glass window, intended to be used in the new construction and currently installed in the Commons. Recently, $15,000 was used to build 11 reinforced sod parking spaces around the circle in front of Hollin Hall. The remaining approximately $450,000 is invested pending further action. In 2007, when faced with a go/no-go decision, we realized that our budget could not be stretched to cover debt service on the required mortgage. Accordingly, the building project was put on hold.
In 2009 several congregational meetings were held to explore the feasibility of restarting the building process. We decided then that we had to complete at least two very successful stewardship campaigns before we could consider restarting the process. Unfortunately, while we got good results in the spring 2010 stewardship campaign, falling wedding revenues due to the economic recession created an unexpected hole in our budget. The fall 2010 Revisit Campaign filled that hole, but did not provide enough of a cushion to allow us to take on debt service at this time.
In accord with results of a straw poll taken at the congregational meeting in May 2011, the Meeting House Improvements Committee has been planning for several projects that can partially remedy the shortcomings of the existing facilities. These projects, including expansion and modernization of the Commons, renovation of the kitchen, and construction of a new chapel stage, will be considered at a special congregational meeting January 22, 2012. If the projects are approved, construction on the Commons would probably take place beginning in January 2013.
At a later time the congregation will consider whether to proceed with the rest of the construction originally authorized in 2006.