Beginning June 1, 2025, we will be entering our 2nd year of our 3-year Capital Campaign for our future church home. A few months ago, the Building Our Future (BOF) Team told the congregation that we were pausing the architectural phase of the building process. This does not mean progress hasn’t been made. The BOF team has been busy submitting the Site Development Plan (SDP) to the city to review. The plan has been returned for revisions (as expected). We have extended our contract with our civil engineering firm, Widseth, to move us through the complete of the SDP. The BOF team will hold a forum on Wednesday, May 7, updating the congregation on where we are now and where we are going in this process. In the meantime, the Capital Campaign is continuing. The new church year begins on June 1, 2025, and year 2 of the Capital Campaign begins June 1, 2025 ,as well. Our Financial Administrator, Amy Nelson, created the graphs below to illustrate where we are in the Capital Campaign process. While the building process may have slowed down, it has not stopped. Your contributions are being spent on engineering needs and all monies collected and not used are being invested into multiple CDs in staggered length of terms.
From the Core Team
The Core Team has been fielding some questions and thought the entire congregation might be interested. Here are some questions and answers:
From the Core Team
The schematics phase is well under way with three meetings down and three to go. We have met with Locus Architects, Kramer Contracting, and various other subcontractors.
The purpose of this phase is to take our concept design and have the subcontractor professionals determine how we will build and if the designs are possible within our budget. This is also the time we begin to discuss and design more intricate details of the building and design. There has been work done (some changes and very few decisions) on the parking lot, the outside of the building, and the inside structural supports, audio/visual needs, and acoustics.
These meetings have allowed us to move the process along with the city and we will be sending the city our Site Development Plan shortly. The Site Development Plan is one of the first steps with the city in the permitting process. There are a lot of moving parts, but rest assured, the Building Our Future Teams have the Congregation’s voices, opinions, wishes, vision, and values in mind during all of these meetings. We look forward to sharing more details and drawings when we have them.
From the Energy and Sustainability Team
Are you interested in climate and environmental justice? Join with members from our church who will work together to support climate justice efforts through the UUA Green Sanctuary 2030 program. Learn more about the UUA Green Sanctuary 2030 HERE.
From the Core Team
Our realtor, Dan Groteboer, for the Walden Lane property gave an update to the Core Team a few weeks ago. We wanted to share this update with the congregation. There are currently 3 developers interested in the property. Two are interested in a 55+ community development. Current interest rates are the biggest challenge to the sale of this property. Dan doesn’t foresee interest rates decreasing until the third quarter of 2025. When the interest rates begin to decline, Dan says developers would likely secure a purchase agreement with a due diligence period. The Core Team plans to meet with Dan quarterly for updates.
From Core Team
Over the last month, a subgroup of the Building Our Future Core Team has been soliciting proposals for Construction Advisors services for our upcoming Schematic Design phase. We contacted several local contractors and received proposals back. The subgroup and Locus Architecture then interviewed selected contractors and settled on one.
Kramer Contracting was selected as our Construction Advisor. As Construction Advisor, Kramer Contracting will partner with the BOF team and Locus Architecture to develop the Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Drawings.
They will also:
We look forward to working with Kramer Contracting and are excited to move into this next phase of building development.
From Core Team
Thank you to everyone who attended the May 19, 2024 Building Forum. The submitted questions and comments have been compiled and have been answered by the Core Team. If you submitted a question at the forum and included your name, you received a personal email with an answer to your question.
A full list of questions, comments, and answers can be found HERE. You can continue to submit questions and comments through our webpage HERE. We hope to keep an updated answer page through all of the building phases.
From the Location and Core Team
At their May 20 meeting, the Rochester City Council approved our request for the annexation of the Viola land into the City of Rochester incorporated limits. As recommended by city staff, the parcel will be designated R2 (low density, small lot) zoning. The Council’s action also directed the City Attorney to prepare an Ordinance for first reading. The change in land designation must now be reviewed by the Haverhill Township Board, the Olmsted County Board, and the State of Minnesota before returning to the attention of the City Council for a second reading. We anticipate the annexation request will be finalized midsummer.
From the Green Team
The Green Team, a sub-team of the larger Building our Future/Beyond Ourselves Team, has created a Vision and Guiding Principles for the Viola Land document to help steer our work over the coming months and years. This document will be revisited regularly while the congregation is transitioning to the Viola Land. Thank you to the Sisters of Assisi Heights for their inspiration in the creation of this document. View the document HERE.
Building Our Future Updates For Sale Sign
The Walden Lane building went on the market in January of 2024. See the link to the listing HERE. The for sale sign, pictured to the right, will be put up this week and will be placed near our main church sign near the lower parking lot.
From the Design Team
In the weeks between January, when the capital campaign brochure revealed a refined (but not final) building design, and March, the design of the sanctuary has undergone a significant refinement. With the dual goals of flexibility and accessibility, the layout of the sanctuary now features a flat rather than sloped floor. This change will offer the greatest degree of flexibility for future worship services and freedom of movement for anyone with limited mobility using assistive devices. Representatives from Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living (SEMCIL) applauded the change and our efforts of inclusion.
From the Location Team
The Location Team is one of several sub-teams under Building Our Future/Beyond Ourselves. Some highlights of what we’re focused on these days: (1) Working with city staff on a request for the Viola site to be annexed to the city of Rochester; (2) Working with county staff to gain additional road access to the Viola site; (3) Waiting to see what interest there is in our Walden Lane site now that it’s officially on the market; (4) Trying to resolve an easement issue with our neighboring Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation.
From the Green Team
The Green Team is a sub team of the larger Building Our Future Team. With direction from the Green Team, church members have been working hard transforming the Viola land. Members have spent many hours removing invasive plants, clearing undergrowth around large trees, clearing garbage and seeding wildflowers. Youth in the Coming of Age class are building Aldo Leopoldo style benches to place on the land. There are plans for future birding outings, a nature journaling class and maybe a bonfire. What are your ideas? Lots remains to be done, so please consider joining us for an upcoming work day or just to walk the land. Contact the church office for details.
Members of the Energy recently met with BakerTilly (a consulting and tax accounting firm) to discuss Clean Energy Project incentives which are available in the 2022 IRA (Inflation Reduction Act). Non-profit entities are now eligible to receive a ‘direct cash payment’ from the IRS for qualifying energy efficiency projects through 2032. Taking advantage of these incentives and opportunities would significantly reduce building and infrastructure costs related to Energy Conservation & Sustainability in the future building at the Viola site.
As we move forward in planning for our new building, the sale of our current church, together with the Capital Campaign, are important in determining a budget for the new building. The Board and the Building Our Future Team want to share that the paperwork to list the current church building was recently signed. However, our realtor has informed us that the process of selling the current building could be a long one. For example, if we were to sell the building to someone who wanted to further develop the property, the sale could take up to 18 months before it was finalized. When we do receive an offer on the building, the Board hopes to negotiate an agreement that will allow us to remain in the building for as long as possible. The process of selling our current church has just begun, but as more information about the sale of the building becomes available, we will share it with the congregation.
The Building Our Future team has begun gathering preliminary estimates from construction companies to help us in refining our building budget. This is a process that will take several months as we gather and analyze the information that can guide us in the building design process.
The Viola Road lot boundaries have been staked and we have a team working on clearing a couple of paths to make it easier to walk. If you plan to walk the lot (before or after the paths are made) please keep the following in mind:
Prepare to Share on July 9
You are invited to participate in a congregational listening session conducted by the Building Our Future Team this coming Sunday, July 9 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. All the suggestions and comments will be shared with Locus Architects as they continue the concept design phase of our building project.
There will be four broad topic areas. All participants will have an opportunity to share ideas on each topic.
To check out the July 9 Listening Session Agenda, click here.
Members and friends are encouraged to complete the online Building Our Future Architectural Design Survey. The survey will remain open until Wednesday, July 12 at 12:00 Noon. The brief survey includes a combination of clickable responses as well as open ended questions soliciting input.
With the benefit of the wealth of ideas shared during our years of discernment and even more thoughtful suggestions offered during recent discussions, some ideas have emerged repeatedly. These “givens” have been shared with our architects.
Tell Us What You Think
The Building Our Future team needs to hear from members and friends of the congregation. Share your thoughts about the new property and the new building via an online survey or at an upcoming listening session.
The online survey offers a combination of short and long answer questions pertaining to the general layout, as well as more personal thoughts regarding beauty, design, and future growth. Throughout June and July, the Building Our Future Team will host a series of listening sessions with members of the shared ministry teams to identify design elements. All ideas will be shared with the architects. In addition, mark your calendars for time with Locus Architects.
Sunday, June 25 (11:30 am – 1:30 pm): Locus Architects will lead a group design exercise.
Sunday, July 9 (11:30 am – 1:30 pm): The Building Our Future team will model group discussion methods used by Locus Architects at earlier sessions to gather additional input.
Wednesday, July 12 6:00 – 8:00 Family Night for Chalice Camp – families will have the opportunity to participate in a listening session led by Building Our Future team members.
Sunday, September 10 (12:30 – 2:30 pm) Locus Architects will share preliminary designs and physical models.
Even knowing that not every idea may be feasible whether due to space, or design, or cost, this is still our time to dream. Share your vision for our new church home.
Green Team Update:
Engineering Firm Selected
In late May, the Building Our Future (BOF) team released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for land surveying, development planning, and civil engineering services. These services are required by Rochester Community Development and needed by Locus Architects. The entire 40+/- acres of our Viola Road property will need surveying, as well as topographic mapping for approximately six acres including site analysis for an approximate 18,000 square foot building and development planning, a grading plan, a stormwater management plan, utility design, and layout for approximately 120-150 spot parking lot and a private roadway.
After a review of proposals submitted by the required deadline, the BOF team recommended that the Board engage Minnesota based Widseth. We anticipate that Widseth staff will work well with all personnel and there may be a possibility of some cost savings with a portion of the work performed by UU members.
We had already completed several research tasks including:
A Purchase and Designing Our Future
We are happy to share that on May 10, papers were signed for the purchase of the Viola Road property and that the property was purchased for $450,000. This property offers so much potential to our congregation as we begin dreaming about our future together. Now that the papers are signed, it’s time to get to work!
The Property Team continues their work on the pre-development process and gathering information about what we need to do to prepare the building site. There is much that needs to be done in preparation and this involves many hours working with city officials and civil engineers. We are incredibly grateful for the team’s dedication and expertise in this area.
At the same time, we have been working with Locus Architecture to determine how Locus would like to proceed with the design process for a new building. There will be multiple opportunities for church members and friends to provide input and ideas about the design of our next church home, whether by providing your input through a survey and/or by attending one of several listening sessions designed by Locus to gather the information they need in preparation for the design work.
The schedule for members and friends to offer input on the design of a new building is:
We hope that at least one of the listening sessions will work for you, but we recognize that everyone’s summer schedules may vary. If you aren’t able to attend one of the listening sessions from June 25 – July 12, be sure to offer your ideas and input though the June 7th survey. Locus will be spending late July and August developing a design based on the input that is gathered over the summer.
On Sunday, September 10, Locus Architecture plans to come in-person to present physical models and designs to the congregation. It will be so exciting to see the plans that are developed from many of our ideas. What a great start to the 2023-24 church year that will be. We’re looking forward to dreaming and designing together with you this summer!
The Board of Directors and the Building Our Future Beyond Ourselves Team
We Voted to Go… Now What?
As you know, our congregation overwhelmingly voted to “go” and explore moving our church to a new site. Building Our Future is an exciting, but complicated project with many moving parts – much information to gather and many details to consider as we determine the best path forward. The Board and the Building Our Future team want to keep you informed about what is happening on this path towards a new building, and we will use this space to provide updates.
Important Property Update
At the April 12 property forum, the Board announced that two properties remained under consideration for a new building – the donor property and the Viola Road property across from Century High School. The Board also announced that we had approved submitting a “Letter of Intent” that would secure our interest in the Viola property, while we gathered the information needed to determine if we would like to consider purchasing the property.
That same evening, after the forum, we were informed of another, strong offer on the Viola property that came in the same day as our Letter of Intent. Based on congregational input during discussions that have taken place during forums, and because the property aligns with our values, we felt that we needed to do whatever we could to preserve the Viola property as an option. It aligns with our values of inclusion and justice because of its easy access and visibility. It also aligns with how we value a connection with nature as this property offers the potential of preserved wilderness. After much back and forth in negotiations with the realtors, it became clear that the church needed to submit an actual purchase offer in order to preserve the Viola property as an option for us. We decided to do so, and that offer was ultimately accepted.
The seller required a quick closing date, so the offer on the Viola property has a closing date of May 10. However, the purchase agreement also includes important contingencies in regards to our concerns about the Decorah Edge that might be present and the impact it would have on our ability to build on the property. The Board and the Building Our Future Team has greatly accelerated our information-gathering process and we expect that we will have answers to most of our questions by the end of April. It is very impressive how much can get done in a very short time when you absolutely must do so!
So, what is the timeline moving forward? The Board is recommending the following tentative timeline:
This timeline does NOT mean that the Board has selected the Viola property as our property of choice at this time. We are still doing our due diligence to help both the Board and the congregation make the best decision possible.
Please note that the above timeline is tentative, and is based on what we learn over the next couple of weeks. This has been a quick-moving and evolving process, but this timeline is our best guess at how things will progress.
As we move forward together with our decision-making, let us be inspired by the words of Jan Richardson:
We know the journey only by stages as it opens before us;
when the road is revealed by turns we could not have foreseen…
Take the vow the pilgrim takes:
to be faithful to the next stage; to rely on more than the map;
to heed the signposts of intuition and dream…
With gratitude,
The Board of Directors
Kim Reid, Paul Trewartha-Weiner, John Helmers, Kim Edson, Brianna Berg, Molly Dingel, Jodi Edmonson, Walt Rothwell, John Tacinelli
First Steps!
The core Building Our Future team has been working hard over the past two weeks to gather and distill information that will guide us as we move forward. Interviews were held with two architectural teams and a recommendation will be brought to the Board for approval. Once approved, we will learn more about the next steps in the building design process. The property team has also been hard at work, narrowing the potential properties to the top 2-3 for the Board to consider. The Board will be meeting at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, April 11, to visit the top properties, and then return to the church to discuss the properties. Please join us on Wednesday, April 12, for the forum after the Tupper Supper, when the Board will share more about the top properties and provide an opportunity for conversation among members about the strengths/challenges of each the top properties choices.
In the past couple of weeks we have slightly expanded the Building Our Future team beyond the original core members, in part to reduce the demand on the original Building Our Future team as the work begins to increase. We have asked a few members with specific experience (i.e. realty, city planning, fundraising, etc.) to assist the original Building Our Future team in these early planning stages. This week the primary focus has been on identifying possible properties that would best meet our church needs, and presenting that information in two Property Forums (on Sunday 3/19 and Wednesday 3/22). In addition, the team has been reaching out to potential architects to begin the process of determining which architectural firm would best suit our needs.
We know that many people are wanting to help and to be included in this exciting process. We hear you! These are still the early days of gathering information and sharing what has been learned with the congregation. The need for volunteers will increase as we continue to move through this process, and we look forward to including anyone who wishes to help as the process moves forward. Stay tuned!