Have you seen the Lich gate? Many old English churches had a gate marking the entrance to the cemetery. UUCA now has a gate marking the entrance to the walkway that leads to the Memorial Garden, Faith Formation entrance, labyrinth, and Muir Woods. If it looks familiar, you may notice that it was the shingled roof over the church’s main entrance. (A great example of “upcycling!) It’s the first of many changes — inside and out — that we will see this spring as the Phase 1 renovation progresses. We hope that you will join us after the Sunday service on March 13 as Rev. John leads us in blessing this Lich Gate.
Wondering where we are on the project as a whole? We are waiting for County approval of a Public Works Agreement to connect UUCA to the water main at Lawrence Avenue. Connecting to public water is a big step — it will allow us to construct a new retaining wall and complete the installation of the sprinkler system. Inside the building, All-N Construction is working on a new shoring system to strengthen and stabilize the building and allow for more open space in the Narthex. We discovered some significant structural concerns and have developed a work plan to address them.
Since folks have asked, the BEEC-2 team created a sizeable reserve to address the expected replacement of the retaining wall, which supports the main entranceway, and to address structural issues discovered as construction work began. In addition, this contingency reserve funded the addition of the Lich gate and the financing for the construction loan for the project. Thankfully, the BEEC-2 team’s financial planning and a few welcomed financial gifts towards this effort have so far covered the project’s costs. We are working diligently for this project to come in within budget and will keep the congregation updated.
We expect the pace of construction to pick up in the coming weeks as the weather improves, and the promised permits are issued. Please stay tuned. The BEEC appreciates your patience and support. Please call or write Craig Beyler or me if you have questions.
Jeanne Jehl