PART 2

The approval paperwork from the City Planning Division was delivered on Friday, April 25. We are now in the process of putting together our construction drawings, which we anticipate to be finished and submitted to the Building & Safety Division around the end of May or early June.

The construction drawings will be used to approve our Building Permit, which will go through a round or two of revisions. Each round should take no more than three weeks to look at and comment on. That means we should have our Building Permit no later than around mid-July.

While we go through the permit approval process, the drawings will make their way to subcontractors, who will give us a more firm idea of the various costs of our project. It's my hope that we can start construction as soon as we receive our Building Permit.

I haven't worked it out with our contractor yet, but I am hoping we will be able to have at least a couple of "Demolition Days" early on. The current Coffee & Donut Room and old office on the breezeway end of the annex building will be completely removed.

There are a number of wires between the Sanctuary and Annex Buildings that have to remain intact through the project. The rock wall supporting the breezeway roof at its north end will be removed as well, but we will be salvaging as much of the flagstone on that wall as we can.

Both of those issues mean that quite a bit of tedious hand demolition will have to take place. That's perfect for some volunteers who like demolition! We'll let you know when to bring out your power tools, sledge hammers, masks and gloves, and the food will be on us!

RIght now as I write, our contractor, Lou Becker, is fine-tuning the estimates of the project for the purpose of our loan paperwork. We anticipate the project at this time will probably cost us somwehere in the mid-$200,000's to complete. We have about $100,000 on hand.

It's our desire to do the project as debt-free as we can. However, with the schedule upon us, we need to open a Construction Loan, so we know that funds are available as we make progress.

The more we are able to pay on our own, the less debt we will incur. We will make sure to have enough funds available to complete the project, but can take less than approved if we are able. Be assured we will be doing everything we can to balance our desire to do the project right with the concept of cost effectiveness wherever we can.

In the process, we plan to refinance the two loans we carry right now. We currently pay 7% interest on them, and will be moving them to 5.25%. All in all, it looks like our monthly expense, including the new construction, will cost us a little LESS each motnh, which is a good thing.

In order to move ahead with the loan, a Congregation Meeting to explain the loan and the need for it, along with taking a vote of those who are official members of NewHeart, is being held on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 pm on the church campus. Iglesia Cristiana Sonrise has their midweek service on Tuesday nights, so we'll hold our meeting in one of our classrooms.

I am encouraging everyone who calls NewHeart their church home to join us for this meeting, even though only official members will be able to cast a vote regarding the loan. Even if you are not an official member, you'll have the chance to hear where we're headed and ask any questions you might have. It'll be a GREAT time to just pray together over the project as well!

If it's been a while since you've given to the Building Fund, now is a great time to prayerfully consider how God might have you and your family participate in this project. For those who have faithfully continued to give, THANK YOU! As the Lord allows, please continue to give! Remember that day to day ministry expenses rely on our regular tithe giving, making the need for our Building Fund giving to be above and beyond what we normally give.

I know these are tight financial times for us all. We also know that our God is bigger and "above and beyond" anything we could ever give. Let's pray for and trust Him for miracle provision as we move into this fresh season of giving and growing together!!