RENOVATION PROJECT UPDATE APPROVED BY SPIRIT OF HOPE CONGREGATION

ON MAY 2, 2021

Close to 66 people joined our Special Congregational Meeting (via Zoom and phone) on Sunday, May 2, 2021 for a report and discussion on our renovation project progress to date and the significant increase in costs for tendered work – and to decide how to proceed.

After receiving tenders for 18 different trade scopes, the project team (construction manager and architectural team) worked with members of the Renovation Subcommittee and Property, Finance and Stewardship Committee to find cost savings while maintaining the overall design intent. Over the past few months, costs have risen dramatically, particularly for materials such as lumber and structural steel, with little indication that prices will decrease any time soon, if ever. With identified cost savings of an estimated $179,000, the new estimated cost to complete the renovation is $3.210 million (with a $100,000 contingency), up from $2.310 million.

The two go-forward decision options presented were:

1.         Finish the work as designed to meet identified needs, implementing the identified cost savings, and increasing the budget by $1 million by using available congregational funds designated in our Futures Fund, OR

2.         Stop work and redesign to finish  with a reduced scope but closer to budget – by cutting major areas of work, compromising the design, and not meeting  identified needs.

We were reminded of the three principles governing our Futures Fund: to honour our forebearers, support local governance and ensure sustainability; and its two main objectives to (1) increase relevance and meaning of our United Church of Canada presence in our part of Edmonton and (2) generate opportunities for living our faith and leadership in community.

Following prolonged and enthusiastic discussion, the motion received positive support to update the budget to $3.210 million to accommodate the subcontractor tender results and the updated estimate at completion for the project to maintain design intent, with the $1 million necessary to update the budget allocated from the Spirit of Hope United Church’s Futures Fund. There were two abstentions in addition to the Leadership Team chair and our minister (the latter two required by the United Church of Canada).

If you have comments, questions or require more information, please contact Cathy Martin, Chair of the Property, Finance and Stewardship Committee at cmcathyanne2@gmail.com or call her after 4:30 p.m. at (780) 237-4821.

We look forward to continuing with this inspiring and exciting project, building on the thorough and excellent work done to date and the many positive relationships that are allowing us to stay on schedule and see it through to completion.

Our thanks to all who are involved in this hopeful and bold endeavour!

Evelyn Porter, Chair

Leadership Team