Insert to the Parish Bulletin 8-7-2011: Update to New Church Building Project

The Insert shown below was in the parish bulletin.  If you have not done so already,  please read it in its entirety before reading my comments.  Please feel free to submit comments at the comment section of this posting or email me at: bpysson@hotmail.com

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

 

New or Clarified Facts:

1. The reason the 22 acre site is not being used is because the financing deal with the Diocese only applies to the in-town location.  For the 22 acre site all of the building expenses must be raised. (Paragraph 5).  St. James’ application for zoning change indicated that the cost of building out in the country was several million dollars more  because of needed water and sewer extensions.  See Jack Wolf’s editorial for additional comments on the Diocese’s actions present and in the past; click on the following:  http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/07/jack-wolf-rockford-diocese-stance-on.html

2.  Just recently the diocese approved a reduction to 850 seats apparently that is the reason for the conflict between the St. James zoning application (850) and the previously maintained 1000 capacity. (Paragraph 6)

3.  There will be no basement, because of the church building’s proximity to parish center. (Paragraph 7)  Costs of the building has not decreased because of the lack of a basement.

4.  The entire new church is being moved closer to the parish center.(Paragraph 7)

 

Possible new question:

In paragraph 5:  “Imagine how long it would take to raise almost $6,000,000 in cash (in today’s dollars) for a project that no one will see develop until we have all the money?”—Does this mean that the cost of the new church is now $6,000,000?