Undercroft Remodel 2013/2014 Archives
Some meeting venues will be changed while our basement undergoes renovation.
2014
SEPTEMBER
Rededication and Blessing of our Undercroft is Sunday, Sept. 14, after the 9:30 a.m. service.
Undercroft Renovation
We are happy to report that the undercroft renovations are just about completed. The fixtures are in, flooring and ceiling are in place, the painting has been completed, the lighting has been installed, and the doors have been hung. Installation of the closet shelving in the main room and nursery is complete. However, small items such as mirrors, toilet tissue holders, and other decorative items may still need to be installed.
Good news! The scheduled date for our official Rededication and Blessing of our Undercroft is Sunday, Sept. 14, after the 9:30 a.m. service.
Ongoing Restoration due to Superstorm Sandy
The next phase of the SANDY RESTORATION PROJECT involves our exterior drainage system. Shrubbery has been removed around the foundation, and top soil adjacent to the north and south sides of the church is being regraded to make room to install a new drainage system. Commercial-size gutters and piping will then be installed to more efficiently and completely carry rain water away from the church structure and into existing drains.
We thank you for your continued patience and tolerance with our construction projects.
DECEMBER 2013
Our basement renovation is slated to begin this month. See the November Message for the scope of the project. The beginning of the project means some flexibility in space-sharing for the rest of us. On Sundays, activities will be moved to the following locations:
Sunday School (younger children): Library
Sunday School (older children): Rectory
Adult Forum: Nave/Church
11 a.m. Coffee Hour: Narthex
9 a.m. Fellowship Sundays (see schedule): Rectory
During the week, our Monday and Tuesday night support groups will meet in the Library. If you have a meeting that regularly meets on Tuesdays, you will need to discuss with your group where you will meet each month.
The Vestry would like to encourage you to consider moving to a public space, when appropriate – perhaps the new Panera Bread, the local diner, or Starbucks. This will allow the Plainview community to see us busy at work – and maybe even give you a chance to meet someone new while grabbing a snack or dinner for your meeting. All other weeknight activities should be unaffected. Watch the calendar for any other changes – you may find a fellowship activity at the rectory or a parishioner’s home.
We encourage you to show as much patience as you can, remembering the great joy we will all experience when the space opens back up. Thank you in advance!
NOVEMBER
Last fall Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc throughout Long Island and damage was sustained by our church structures as well. Accordingly, in conjunction with the Buildings & Grounds Committee and the Vestry, we will soon begin a renovation of the basement, including Hayden Hall, the nursery, and the small classroom.
Outside contractors will first demolish these three rooms leaving the kitchen and bathrooms intact. Mold mitigation will then be performed, followed by the sealing of foundation leaks and cracks. Thereafter, new windows, window wells, gutters, walls, and flooring will be installed. A complete redirection of the outside drainage system will also be undertaken to prevent flood and water damage in the future. The new flooring in the basement will be extended into the kitchen as well. Also, there will be an updating and repair of electricity and Internet network connection installation before the walls are installed.
Unfortunately, the basement will be off limits to all parishioners and guests during this construction period for safety reasons. Mother Jennifer and the wardens will be redirecting meetings and coffee hour locations to the Narthex, the Library, the Nave, and the Rectory, so please watch for notices of these changes in location and be patient with us as we complete this important work.
The final phase of this project will be the painting of these three rooms and we will need your assistance in helping us choose the colors! There will soon be a poster up in the narthex requesting your vote for the colors you believe would look the best in these respective rooms. The difference with this election process is that we encourage you to not only vote once but VOTE OFTEN as this will also be a fundraiser to offset the cost of the work not covered by insurance.
I am so excited and elated to see this project now set in motion and look forward to its completion in a few months. Just think how beautiful this church will look when it is all finished. What a fitting start to the next 50 years of service to our Lord and to this community!
SEPTEMBER
Water problems in the church basement are being addressed by the Buildings & Grounds Committee. We are awaiting word from our insurance company as to the best course of action.As most of us know, we have been suffering with “water” problems in the church basement for many, many years, and during and after heavy rainstorms, the basement continually floods. Despite valiant efforts by very dedicated parishioners, the problem persists and, through no one’s fault, has been getting worse.
This year, after the Vestry retreat in April, we decided to do some sprucing up around the church. One of the projects on the list was to clean up the basement, i.e., repaint whatever needs it, put up new walls, redecorate, re-organize for Sunday School, etc. As we began to just scan out the work, we took off the paneling and saw mold. We immediately stopped and called our insurance company. In order to have a proper inspection, we needed to clean out the nursery and the small classroom of all items (including the baskets for the Fall Fair). An insurance inspection was done several weeks ago, and we are awaiting a final report.
We are awaiting this report before proceeding for two reasons: we must address the mold problem, and we need to see what the final cost of repair and remodeling will be to the church. We ask that you be patient with us during this time, knowing that the end product will clear the mold issue, stop the water seepage into the church, bring the look of the undercroft into the year 2013, and will provide a more efficient use of space for Sunday School and other activities.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask any Vestryperson. We will certainly keep you apprised as events progress.
~ Janice Palladino
AUGUST
We are happy to report that the undercroft renovations are over 90% completed. The fixtures are in, flooring and ceiling are in place, the painting has been completed, the lighting has been installed, and the doors have been hung. Left to do is the installation of the closet shelving in the main room and nursery. Also, small items such as mirrors, toilet tissue holders, and other decorative items must be installed.
Please be on the lookout soon for the scheduled date for our official Opening and Blessing Ceremony.
The next phase of the SANDY RESTORATION PROJECT involves our exterior drainage system. You will soon be seeing the removal of shrubbery and top soil adjacent to the north and south sides of the church to make room to install a new drainage system. Commercial size gutters and piping will then be installed to more efficiently and completely carry rain water away from the church structure and into existing drains.
We thank you for your continued patience and tolerance with our construction projects.
~ Janet Smitelli & Paul Palladino, B&G Committee
