View a video of the recent Town Hall Meeting
From the Long Range Facilities Assessment Team, you may view
August 31, 2012
In the coming weeks, our Long Range Facilities Assessment Team will host a series of informational Town Hall meetings for the congregation to present its initial report concerning the current state of our campus. These 60-90 minute forums will start September 16 and conclude October 6. See the schedule at the end of this article.
The LRFAT was formed as an extension of our Trustees’ initial work in resolving the structural problems within the Sanctuary façade and its columns.
Over the course of two years, the committee has compiled feedback from our Neighborhood ConnecXions meetings, met with structural engineers and architects, and interviewed the church staff to help gauge the present health of our facilities as well as to establish whether or not our buildings are adequate to our current and future mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ. The committee has prepared several scenarios for the church’s consideration. These projects range from the refurbishing of parts of the campus to more extensive renovations and new construction of others.
The Town Hall meetings will be an opportunity for information, education and discussion. Though approximate costs of the various projects will be part of the presentation and discussion, the committee wishes to emphasize that, presently, the church is only formulating the best strategy for any future building plans.
Through these Town Hall meetings, the congregation will be asked to assist the LRFAT in prayerfully discerning God’s will for the congregation’s ministry to our community. The feedback from these meetings will form the basis of the LRFAT’s ultimate recommendations to our church conference regarding taking steps forward with our campus, possibly in early 2013.
In downtown Denton, growth is occurring not only all around us but ‘within us’ as well. The weekly 9:45 Connection Service as well as the 3rd Sunday Service are outgrowing their space. Our Searchers’ Sunday School class is bursting at the seams. The Trippers’ have completely outgrown Flinn Hall. Worship attendance is up. Where do we park?
FUMC Denton stands ready to reap the harvest of its congregation’s decision, long ago, to remain a downtown church.
We urge all members and their families to attend one of the Town Hall meetings. Your input in this long-range process is vital.
Town Hall Meetings
| Sunday | 09/16/12 | 2:00 pm | Sanc |
| Saturday | 09/22/12 | 10:00 am | FH |
| Sunday | 09/23/12 | 6:00 pm | FH |
| Wednesday | 09/26/12 | 1:00 pm | FH |
| Wednesday | 10/03/12 | 6:00 pm | FH |
| Saturday | 10/06/12 | 10:00 am | FH |
Grace and peace,
The Long-Range Facilities Assessment Team
Cindy Aughinbaugh, Nancy Murphy-Chadwick, Steve Chenoweth, Tim Crouch, Ken Dickson,
Larry Fisher,Wally Kille, Don Lee, Tim McGuire, David Piccolo, Michael Ramey, Joe Roy,
Elizabeth Warren,Demi Prentiss, John Priddy, Wayne Rogers, Kathryn Stream, Fred Williams
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From Our Trustees
January 29, 2012
On Friday, January 27, we had the pre-construction meeting with Tim Beaty Builders and our architect t HHS. It was a very productive meeting. Those in attendance from the church were Matt Gaston, Nancy Murphy-Chadwick, David Piccolo, Gary Grider and Paul Williamson.
On Monday, January 30, the project will begin! During this first week the contractor will begin the tuck pointing process, which is a part of the waterproofing process for the Sanctuary. The project will be completed in early June 2012.
A construction fence will be installed blocking off the sidewalk in front of the church and around the corner on Mulberry up to the first entrance door to the building. This entrance will be accessible as will the others on the Mulberry side of the Sanctuary. The Ivey Garden entrance will also still be accessible. It may have to be blocked off during a part of the selective deconstruction process. This should be for only a brief period of time, and you will be notified when this is to happen. There will also be a fenced in area in the back of the church adjacent to the parking lot next to the volleyball court and Crouch Garden. This will serve as a contractor staging area for the project.
The construction day will typically run from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. At this point we anticipate that the selective deconstruction of the front of the Sanctuary will take place beginning the week of February 6. During this period, Tim Beaty will be directly supervising the operation. In addition the Trustees have a monitoring team where one of the team will be around daily to check on progress and process throughout the entire project. That team is composed of Nancy Murphy-Chadwick, Gary Grider, David Piccolo, Paul Williamson, Mike Conley and Tommy Nations.
Each Friday the Trustees will receive a progress report from Tim Beaty Builders. Once the report is received information will be placed on the bulletin board next to Matt’s office and on the church website. We are looking forward to working with Tim Beaty Builders and our continued relationship with HHS.
From Our Trustees
January 20, 2012
Happy New Year! Well, it is January 2012, and you might be asking, "Where is the construction that was to begin this month?"
About a week ago (mid-January), we received full clearance from the city to move ahead on the project. This has been a very long process. We are now completing the contract with our contractor, Tim Beaty Builders. This should be completely signed by the first of next week (January 23-27). At that point we will hold the preconstruction meeting and review the construction schedule.
After this meeting the construction schedule will be placed on the church website and on the bulletin board outside of Rev. Matt’s office. I expect that everything will begin moving very soon.
As a recap of what to expect, the project will include the deconstruction of the upper porch area of the Sanctuary, retreading the Sanctuary steps, construction of a new temporary face to the front entrance, water proofing the Sanctuary, and bracing the east and west walls of the Education Building. The last of the green stained glass windows will be removed as a part of this project. The church will keep these windows and they will be for sale to church members who want a piece of history. Information about this will be forthcoming.
When the deconstruction and construction begins, you will receive weekly updates through the church website and on the bulletin board outside of Matt’s office. If you have any questions please contact Joe Carbonaro, FUMC Business Administrator or Nancy Murphy-Chadwick, Chair of the Trustees.
From Our Trustees
June 30, 2011
Dear Friends,
On Sunday July 17, a Church Conference will be held immediately following the 11 am service. All church members are welcomed and have a vote. At this time we will review the information that was received by the Trustees and the Long Range Facilities Assessment Team from our consulting architectural and engineering firms hired to conduct a thorough assessment of the church’s physical plant and the funding options to correct the areas identified in the assessment report as “dangerous”.
During the conference we will discuss the following items:
We believe strongly that our commitment of $1.1M a year ago to reduce debt is a sacred trust. We also believe in avoiding additional debt to the degree possible. Any conversation about possibly redirecting capital funds away from debt reduction and toward the necessary work on the sanctuary façade requires every voice. We encourage you to be a part of this important discussion by attending the Church Conference on July 17.
Grace and peace,
Nancy Murphy-Chadwick Chair, Board of Trustees
David Piccolo Chair, Long Range Facilities Assessment Team
Dick Baker Chair, Administrative Board
Matt Gaston Lead Pastor
Joe Carbonaro Church Business Administrator
Additional information:
+ The results of the facility assessment were presented at an all Church Conference in February 28, 2011 where we heard the report from our consulting architectural (Hahnfeld, Hoffer and Stanford, HHS) and engineering (Clough, Harbour and Associates, CHA) firms. The major concern raised from the report was the identification of areas on the front of the sanctuary building and exterior masonry on the Education building labeled as “dangerous.”
+ Since the February meeting the Trustees had been working with CHA to identify a reliable monitoring program. At the April 27th meeting the Trustees met with CHA representative Ben Harris and reviewed the areas identified as being “dangerous” and could see further deterioration in the façade at the front entrance to the sanctuary. We determined that it was time to move ahead to remedy the dangerous situation.
+ At the Administrative Board meeting on May 2, the Trustees made the recommendation to begin the selective demolition and interim enclosure of the front area (porch, columns, stairs, façade) of the sanctuary building and the bracing of the existing first level masonry on the east and west sides of the Education building as soon as possible. The Administrative Board voted to move ahead to correct this situation.A letter was published in the Between the Columns the first week in May conveying the need to move ahead on the areas identified as “dangerous” and the decision of the Administrative Board for the Trustees to proceed with the project.
+ HHS and CHA are currently in the process of developing the construction documents and technical specifications required for this. They will submit these specifications to five contractors who specialize in this type of demolition and construction to achieve the best bid for this job. The Trustees will work with this phase of the project. As that is occurring, the Long Range Facilities Assessment Team will be working with HHS to develop plans for the actual renovation and/or construction of the front of the sanctuary building, the Education building and Flinn Hall. This master plan will be developed through review of programs and ministry needs and through input from you, the congregation.
+ The estimate for this demolition, interim enclosure and bracing project will cost approximately $400,000.
+ Along with the decision to move forward with planning for the urgent demolition, interim enclosure and bracing project, the Finance Committee was requested to determine funding sources for this project, based on the estimated cost. Proposals were requested and offered by Texas Methodist Foundation, the FUMC Foundation, and Inwood National Bank. The most economical solution was discerned and recommended.
+ The current 2011 church budget can meet the repayment of the credit line to our member and to Inwood Bank for the remainder of this year without revision. The Finance Committee is recommending that once the note for the Flinn Hall renovation/repair is first paid in full to the Foundation (possibly by the end of this year), we redirect the subsequent revenue from the debt reduction commitments to payment for the sanctuary work in order to avoid additional indebtedness. Of the original $1.1M dollars committed toward long term debt reduction, this will mean a re-direction of some $500,000 toward the sanctuary work rather than the back end of the East Wing note, currently standing at $1.68M. This is a very important decision for every giver.
+ Consequently, after retirement of the Flinn Hall renovation note in 2012-13, every supporter of the Fulfilling the Mission debt reduction campaign will have the option to CHOOSE whether to redirect their contributions toward this project or continue to help reduce our indebtedness by paying down principal on the back end of the East Wing note.
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From Our Trustees
May 4, 2011
Dear Friends,
At the all church conference in February you heard the report from the architectural/engineering firm hired by the church to conduct a through assessment of the church’s physical plant. The major concern raised from the report was the identification of areas on the front of the sanctuary building and exterior masonry on the Education Building that were identified as being dangerous. Since that meeting the FUMC Trustees have been working with Clough, Harbour and Associates (CHA), who provided the structural report to review the areas identified as being dangerous. At the most recent review with CHA representative, Ben Harris, on April 27th, we could see further deterioration in the façade at the front entrance to the sanctuary and determined that it was time to move ahead to remedy the dangerous situation.
At the Administrative Board meeting on May 2, 2011 the Trustees made the recommendation to begin the selective demolition and interim enclosure of the front area (porch, columns, stairs, façade) of the sanctuary building and the re-shoring of the existing first level masonry on the east and west sides of the Education Building as soon as possible. The Administrative Board voted to move ahead to correct this situation.
The Architectural firm of Hahnfeld, Hoffer and Stanford (HHS) in conjunction with the Engineering firm of Clough, Harbour and Associates (CHA) will provide the construction documents and technical specifications. They will submit these specifications to five contractors who specialize in this type of demolition and construction to achieve the best bid for this job. The Trustees will work with this phase of the project. As that is occurring, the Long Range Planning and Assessment Committee will be working with HHS to develop plans for the actual renovation and or reconstruction of the front of the Sanctuary building, the Education Building and Flinn Hall. This master plan will be developed through review of programs and ministry needs and through input from you, the congregation.
It is our goal to keep you apprised of the plans all along the way through the Columns and on the church website through our Building News installments. Questions you may have will be communicated along with the answers in these installments. Very soon the projected timeline and costs for this initial phase will be provided, along with potential financing plans.
We are blessed with an active congregation in an area that is growing with new families, businesses and now accessible transportation through the DCTA.
First United Methodist Church-Denton has always been prominent in the downtown area of Denton. We are blessed to be a downtown church, and it is important that we put our best face forward not only through our ministry, programs and mission outreach but also through a facility that is both welcoming and accessible.
We encourage you to be a part of the vision by providing your feedback and questions. It is certainly wonderful to be a part of such a dynamic church.
Peace to you !