Let’s Do Lunch!

Sunday, November 18th, 2018 – 11:45am Auditorium

LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH – hosted by the LUC Renovation Team

LET’S DO LUNCH:

We are pleased to invite you to an important opportunity to analyze the revised conceptual drawings and defined scope of work for our renovation plans.  A light lunch of pizza (vegetarian and gluten free will be available) and salad will be provided (bring a brown bag lunch if this is not to your liking).

The Leaside United Church Renovation Team listened carefully to you and your unique perspectives and needs during and after last month’s Lunch and Learn (October 21st) and the Town Hall (October 28th). As well as having insightful individual conversations and feedback via email and written responses the team along with the Larkin architects were able to further tweak the plans.

This phase highlights the conceptual level we have achieved together and our vision and mission going forward. Compromises and trade-offs had to be made to accommodate our budget and the requirements of Presbytery regulations. As mentioned previously the cost of the initial architect plans were double our budget.  We made sure every voice was acknowledged and heard and will continue this process of listening.  Right now we are tasked with coming to a general agreement with a strong mandate as a community so we can move to the next phase of implementation.  This is not a linear process and we need your help as this design/vision project evolves.

After carefully reviewing all your responses, we relayed that information to the architects.  All along we knew we were constrained by our budget so with this in mind, the team honed in on the most important and popular feedback and came up with a practical and meaningful renovation plan that fits our budget and our mission plans going forward.  Together, we have addressed issues of accessibility, much needed infrastructure upgrades and presenting welcoming exterior landscaping, as examples.

We are currently only looking at the big ideas about which areas we want to specifically address.  This will give us enough of a mandate to take the next step of refining the design.  This is not a finished design, and we will be returning to everyone as we look at detailed layouts, materials, and systems.

What to expect when we do lunch … we will enjoy a light lunch, hear a brief presentation from Graham Lute highlighting the design vision changes/revisions to the architect’s drawings and the rationale for these decisions. Then we will have a chance to reflect in small groups to get a clear understanding of what will occur over the next phase of planning a renovation. All key concerns will be considered.

CONVERSATION SESSIONS:

Also, for those who are unable to attend the after-church session on the 18th or will attend but have more questions, we are offering Conversation Sessions on Monday November 19th 7:00pm-8:30pm and Tuesday November 20th 2:00pm-3:30pm. The format of these conversation will be meeting one on one or in small groups with Brenda French and Warren McDougall to iron out any questions and provide a time for feedback (in the Fellowship Room).

SURVEY:

Participants will be given an opportunity to fill out a short survey to give feedback in fine tuning the plans on the table now.  You can sign up to receive the link to the survey or fill out a hard copy version.

Here are a few of the questions that the survey will ask:

Q:  We have heard the feedback that having an accessible building is a top priority. Do you agree?

Q:  We have heard the feedback that a welcoming and invitational landscape is a high priority. Does this reflect your view?

Q:  We have heard the feedback that many people prefer pews to chairs. Does this reflect your view?

Along with 5 other questions about our proposed prioritizing as we make affordable choices.

Make sure to save this time and Let’s Do Lunch and work as a community to refine our vision together! Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to sitting down with you on Sunday November 18th.

The Leaside United Church Renovation Team