Before the ACC Council decides to upgrade our restrooms, it is time for the Congregation to see what is being considered. Two alternative plans, known as Plan B Alt and Plan F Alt, will be posted in the Fireside Room starting this coming Sunday--they are also attached. The Restroom Planning Committee will also host two “town halls” on Zoom to discuss the benefits of each plan as well as the probable costs. If the Council votes to proceed on one of these plans, there will be a long process ahead before any construction begins including development of working drawings, review by the Sanitary District, and Permitting by the County. Construction would likely begin late May or June of 2023.
This is a voluntary upgrade that considers the desire to increase the number of fixtures (especially in the women’s restroom), and to create accessible space for wheelchairs. It would be the last project using funds from the Capital Campaign. Council decision will be based on the long-term benefits of the project to the church community, funding, and input from the Congregation. Many different iterations of design possibilities have been studied, and Council has narrowed it down to two options, Plan B Alt and Plan F Alt.
Members of the congregation are invited to participate in one or both of the Zoom town halls regarding plans being considered, the expected costs, and possible funding sources: August 31 at 4:00 PM and September 1 at 7:00 PM. We will welcome your questions and opinions.
Attached are the two plans (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)
Plan B Alt would involve the use of the cloak closet as well as our existing restroom spaces. Existing restrooms would be expanded slightly by bringing the south wall (where the drinking fountains currently are) forward to the level of the little wing walls in front of the men’s and women’s doorways. Those restrooms would not need to have space for wheelchair turn around, because an accessible unisex restroom would be created in the current cloak closet. The increased space would allow two more toilets to be added to the women’s restroom, and one more sink. The men’s room could have an additional sink and a more private screened urinal than the existing restroom. Each would have a fold -down baby changing table.
An added value of Plan B Alt, reflecting ACC’s commitment to equity and inclusion, is a unisex restroom. The accessible unisex restroom would be completely private with accessible toilet, urinal, and sink. Javier’s mop sink, currently in the cloak closet, would be moved next to the women’s restroom or an existing storage closet in the corridor between the Social Hall and the Fireside Room. A proposed new cloak closet would likely be furniture conveniently located in the Narthex niche currently holding a narrow table and mirror (just to your left after entering the building). Given the rare use of the cloak closet for coats, this is likely an acceptable alternative.
Plan F Alt would only use the current restroom space including expansion of the wall holding the drinking fountains. It would create a unisex accessible space that would also serve as the men’s room.
The women’s room would gain 2 more toilets for a total of 3. Note: one of the women’s stalls is wider and has a sink in it that would be comfortable for someone with a walker. All three restrooms would have baby changing tables.
If you have any questions before the town hall’s, please feel free to ask any of us on the planning committee.
Linda Young, Eleanor Crump, or David Hertzer.