If you have entered St. John parking lot after dark, you have most likely noticed that is is darker than usual. This is because under two separate occasions, drive have collided into our light poles, knocking them out of commission. We are currently working with our insurance company and electricians in order to get this respoved as soon as possible for the safety and well-being of our parishioners and visitors. Thank you for your patience.
Once the weather FULLY turns the corner into steady warmth and sunshine, we will begin tackling some of the items on the "to do" list. A complete update is coming soon.
Well, just because there has been a lack of the 'white stuff' this winter, we have certainly had no shortage of heating issues here in the parish. Leaks have been located within the heating systems in the parish hall kitchen. However, we have (thankfully) been able to keep them under control until repairs can be made in the spring, thus allowing all kitchen activities to continue without interruptions.
We have completed the exterior water damage repair to the breezeway between the old parish center and parish office building. This was a more extensive repair than originally thought due to the amount of rot incurred by the prolonged period of dampness. The breezeway roof was not tied into the building properly, causing water to get into the wall and creating a perfect environment for rot. We opened the wall, repaired the damage, and installed new flashing and insulation. The breezeway ceiling was also replaced, complete with the installation of new wiring and LED fixtures and lighting. The inside work will be done at a later date.
Work on the front steps continues! We expect a completion date of Friday, May 19th, including clean-up of the area. There remains some aspects of the project that need to be completed, however, work is underway and at a good pace.Weather permitting, the railings will be installed by the end of next week Then… the front stairs should be open for use!
On Wednesday, April 19th, the work began once again. Most of this ‘opening day’ was spent on re-mobilizing and transporting materials to the work site. On Thursday, the 20th, the work actually began. We expect to see continued progress on this project over the next few weeks. We will get a better idea of how long it will take for total completion once the railings are delivered.
The stairs project is scheduled to continue once the weather breaks… tentatively May 1st. We, like you, look forward to the completion of this work. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this project to assure it will be completed in a timely manner AND correctly, as we should expect.
Due to the winter weather conditions the construction of the front steps is currently on hold.
To bring things up-to-date…
We unfortunately have not meet the completion date that we wanted, however, when this is finished in the spring, it will be worth the wait! Thank you for your patient understanding.
As you may be able to see, the front steps are now being formed. What you may not be able to see is that the underground drainage system is being installed beneath the concrete pad and steps. To date, this has been a somewhat slower than expected process due to some changes that were made along the way… as is usual with any project of this size and scope. Good News! We found the existing foundation to be solid, allowing us to save on additional excavation and form work. Additionally, we made changes to the existing deteriorating retaining wall on the lawn side, and will continue to find savings as we make further adjustments to the project.
As previously stated, the existing front steps are deteriorated due to years of water damage and also due to the method in which they were installed. The way it was currently constructed allows water to penetrate thru the joints between each piece of stone and onto the existing cement base. Due to frost and winter conditions from season to season, the steps have deteriorated and moved. Additionally, the landing is pitched backwards , resulting in water not being able to run OFF the steps and away from the building, but rather, running TOWARDS the building and collecting underneath, causing the washing out of the existing base. We now have a new design to stop the water from seeping into the joints. We now have a new design to stop the water from seeping into the joints. It will eliminate 1 step… we will now have only 2 steps…. and will have water tight joints and be pitched away from the building. The new design is superior to the existing and is an excellent solution for this ongoing problem.
Due to the current construction, the main entrance doors will be used ONLY in an emergency, until is becomes dangerous to use the front landing. When this time arrives, adequate notice will be given to you. A clearly marked “EMERGENCY EXIT” path will remain open alongside the retaining wall on the lawn side of the church. The following 3 doors are available for exit from the church; one on each side of the altar at the front of the church, and the one opposite the elevator in the vestibule.
The site fencing is up, signifying that the work will begin! During this construction phase, the front entrance of the church will be used for emergency purposes ONLY. You will need to enter the church through the New Parish Center or the elevator. Completion of all work is slated for mid to late October.
We had a meeting on July 27th, at which time we secured our contractor. After reviewing the plans, it was determined that some cost-saving changes be made. In two weeks, we will review the new plans based on those recommended changes. We are looking to ‘break ground’ on this work at some point in August, beginning with the front steps.
Most, if not all, of you should have received my letter requesting financial assistance with our budget deficit and property repairs. There have been a few questions as to the extent of work required, so in order to address this, below please find the entire scope of the project, broken down by area, with the associated price tags, totalling over $250,000…
STAIR One: Main Church Entrance: $48,975
– RECONSTRUCT stone terrace and curved stair and INSTALL NEW HANDRAILS
EAST & WEST RAMPS: Front Entrance of Church: $16,500
– DEMOLISH WEST Ramp and REPLACE with loam and RE-PITCH EAST Ramp
LOWER WALKWAY: Near driveway: $16,565
– NEW Concrete Slab
STAIR Two: Lawn Side: $6,560
– DEMOLISH and RECONSTRUCT concrete and REPAINT existing handrails
STAIR Three: Near Elevator: $14,025
– DEMOLISH and RECONSTRUCT concrete and REPAINT existing handrails
STAIR Four: Front Circle to Parking Lot: $7,995
– DEMOLISH/ RECONSTRUCT concrete. REMOVE/REPAIR/REPAINT existing handrails
STAIR Five: New Parish Center Front Entrance: $6,020
– RE-ATTACH wing walls
STAIR Six: New Parish Center Rear Entrance: $22,475
– DEMOLISH and RECONSTRUCT brick wing walls and REMOVE, REPAIR and REPAINT existing handrails
STAIR Seven: Sacristy Entrance: $15,730
– RECONSTRUCT brick supported concrete and PROVIDE sealant joint
RETAINING WALL: Lawn Side: $88,286
– DEMOLISH/RECONSTRUCT brick-faced concrete. RE-SET stone coping atop wall
HANDRAILS: $2,900
*** TOTAL ABOVE COST = $246,031 ***
All additional donations over the $246,031 will help to defray the following…
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING & DESIGN: $9,000
CHURCH and RECTORY CHIMNEYS: $15,000
*** TOTAL PROJECT COST = $270,031 ***
We have made the decision as to whom we will hire to do the work. Our decision on how to fund it will determine the total scope of the work that we will be able to complete. We ask you to join us in bringing this to prayer. -Fr. Brian
I know that there are concerns about the front steps of the Church, and some wonder if there will ever come a time when they will be repaired. I would like to take a minute or two to summarize the steps taken thus far. I began working on this issue shortly after I arrived in July. At that time, I contacted the Archdiocese to inquire about the best way to move forward, and they recommended hiring an engineering firm to look at the exact scope of the project, which we soon found out was more than just a simple fix of the front stairs. We looked at the retaining wall, which is also in serious need of repair, as well as all of the stairs, including those in the new parish center. A comprehensive study of all needed work was completed and the plans were drawn up. Those plans were presented to the Finance Council for their recommendation, and by the time this process was completed, it was October. The cost of trying to get the job done at that time would have been prohibitive, since the weather brought about time restraints. Once the first frost arrived, the work would not have been able to continue based on the job specifications. It was recommended by the Archdiocese, the engineering company and members of the Finance Council, who have knowledge of the issues, to wait until spring. We sent the project out for bids at the beginning of April and the bid process was completed just last week. I reviewed the two bids that were received on Monday, and one was not considered reasonable, and so we are now looking to get two more bids over the next 10 days. When these new bids come in, they will be presented to the Finance Council for their recommendation, and then we will hire that company to complete the work. My hope is that we will start the project within the next month or so, based on the timetable of that company we select. We will also need help in covering the cost of what I know will be an expensive proposition, but what I need most of all at this point, is your continued patience. I believe that it is more important to do a project of this importance correctly, than to do it quickly. I apologize to anyone who believes that I have not been diligent enough in this project endeavor, but please know that my methodical process is based on my deep concern that we achieve the best possible outcome. -Fr. Brian