 Possible Center Expansion
at Alder Street
Update to the Community - March 26,2011:
Dear Sangha,
As we wrote in our last letter, we've been investigating building code requirements and whether there's a viable way to expand at Alder street. Last week, Lesa and Bettina met with two architects with experience in commercial renovations of older buildings. The outcome of that meeting was clarity that we can't expand at Alder street due to building code requirements and associated costs.
What's next? Please join us April 17th at 2 pm, following the community potluck (hosted by the Dorje Kasung), as we open the space to conversation about what we do next. We envision this as an open discussion, as an opportunity to collectively identify what we've learned, and a venue to share our ideas and inspiration about where we go from here.
Please note the change in date, and allow me to offer our apologies for the multiple date changes. We overlooked schedule problems when we selected the April 3rd date.
Yours in the practice of enlightened society,
Evan
(Writing for Lesa as well, who is recuperating from recent surgery. She's doing well.)
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Lesa Ricci & Evan Trimble
Shambhala Meditation Center of Portland
Center Co-Directors
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Community Meeting #2 now scheduled for April 17, 2011
2:00 - 5:30pm (3:30 - 4pm, tea break)
Members & Friends are invited to our second Community Meeting regarding moving forward with the Center Expansion at our Alder St. location not a possibility.
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Update to the Community - March 17, 2011:
Dear Portland Sangha,
We are writing with an update on where we're at in the decision making process regarding our possible expansion at Alder St. We'd planned to send this out earlier this week, but on Tuesday we learned of some possible obstacles regarding building codes. We're presently working to determine whether or not there's a viable way to work with the requirements of the building code. Considering this, we're postponing the community meeting scheduled for this Sunday, moving it to Sunday April 3rd, 1:30-5:00 pm (with half hour tea break). Whatever we find out in regards to the building code and our space needs, this meeting will focus on our next steps forward.
We're pleased to report that there's been broad engagement among community members throughout this process, leading to lots of good conversations and feedback. We've been delighted to share in the rising energy of inquiry and inspiration as we collectively consider the options before us. And even while we know we may not be able to expand at Alder St, we want to report on what's happened since the community, as issues we've collectively identified, and the knowledge we've gained, have already strengthened and inspired us to move forward.
Conversations and feedback have been happening in many forms, including phone, email and in-person; responses to the survey (twenty-eight to date); and the community meeting just over a week ago. Twenty-nine people attended the meeting, and there was lots of energy in the room. Overall, the message we received was a strong sense of "yes" we should go forward, and of excitement about the possibilities, but with four main areas of concern: Read More....
Announcement to the Community - February 16, 2011:
Dear Sangha,
Last week we learned that additional space is opening up in our Alder St. building, which presents us with an immediate opportunity to expand. By April 1st, our neighbors at Western Financial in suite #201 will have moved out (it’s immediately to the left as you walk in). Our landlord, Ray Vanbeek, is happy to rent this additional space to us and is asking for a verbal commitment by March 8th. We need to have a genuine and decisive conversation about this possibility in a short time frame.
This is our Center. We have to ask ourselves as a community: Do we feel and believe that this is the right next step in our development? Do we want to do this? Are we ready and willing to make this leap?
We’ve outlined various factors to consider below. Please take some time to contemplate and consider what you think and feel about this possibility. We need to hear from every member. Friends of Shambhala (non-members) are definitely invited to give their input. Read More....
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Information Presented in Community Meeting #1:
Renovation
Design
Cost
Financial Plan For Increased Operational Costs
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How can we afford to expand when we have such a tight 2011 operating budget?
A: We are currently putting together a financial plan with a few different scenarios. What we can say right now is that we have cash reserves & capital funds that are separate from our operating budget. The cash reserves could be used either toward the renovation costs or to float the operating budget while we work on increasing our revenue base. Whether or not we can use our capital funds for the renovation is being determined.
If we go forward, we would need to increase our financial base, regardless of how we bridge our operating budget or how we fund the renovation. As a community we need to consider a combination of sources to increase our monthly revenue base. Sources that we should consider include increased class size (made possible by larger spaces for classes, including the larger main shrine room), fewer space conflicts around class scheduling (providing the space for more classes as we grow our teaching and volunteer corps), increased average membership dues and, dues from new members. Many Shambhala Centers report membership growth when their space increases, but we have to be very careful and grounded in thinking about growth.
Q: Where would the expanded main shrine room be?
A: Our existing shrine room will expand back into our existing library/community room. The ceiling will be full height because we will be “re-claiming” part of the attic space above the community room. Both our structural engineer & our landlord has given the green light on this.
Q; What would the rest of the floor plan look like?
A: Eva Wong, the Feng Shui consultant empowered by Sakyong Mipham to consult on all Shambhala Centers, has advised us how best to work with the space. Based on her recommendation we have a preliminary floor plan that will allow us to begin doing construction estimating for the renovation that would be needed for the expansion.
Q: Why wouldn't we expand the main shrine room all the way back to the front community room?
A: The original idea was to expand the main shrine room all the way back to the double doors of the front Community Room, but after a long walk-through consult with the structural engineer, he told us we needed to put the wall where it shows on the drawing, otherwise we were going to have to do expensive and potential unworkable structural reinforcements going down into the tenants space below us. In reclaiming part of the utility attic above the inner community room, we need to leave enough of the attic to house the hvac ductwork, electrical etc for the building. The great news is that we actually still gain another 35 seats. And, we gain a proper PMH (pre/post meditation hall that is meant to act a transition space to slow down ones mind before entering the practice space.)
Q: How much would the renovation cost?
A: Based on our preliminary floor plan we have some cost estimates. These numbers represent a project scope estimate. If we decide to go forward, we will get detailed renovation costs, which would include detailed competitive bids from all trade contractors we need to use. View the renovation cost estimates here.
Q: Who would do the renovation work?
A: We would hope to do as much of the work as possible with volunteers from the community, but this will depend on how we decide to accomplish the renovation. We need to know if you would be willing to participate in this way. Do you have construction project management experience, or carpentry, painting, electrical, HVAC, carpet installation skills that you would be willing to offer? Would you willing to move & haul, clean or organize? Please e-mail us here and tell us what you would be willing to do.
Q: How could we keep operating during an expansion in our current building?
A: The new space would get renovated first, which would cause no disruption. We would then move the office; bookstore & tea area into the new space (where the library goes is yet to be determined). The biggest disruption of moving the back wall of the main shrine room would be done in between class nights (Thursday through Monday) with Thursday Night & Sunday morning sitting happening in the new Auxiliary meditation space.
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