Fall 1987 Friends appoint a committee during the October business meeting “to explore the needs of the Meeting for expansion of its building…” In December, the committee recommends establishing a Building Fund. It will be necessary to at least fund some major repairs. Friends attending business meeting raised many questions, and were not ready to establish a Fund.
“It is important to realize
that we are engaged in a process, the outcome of which is uncertain, and that
we cannot expect to reach unity until all points of view are thoroughly
considered and discussed. It was suggested
that other ways of discussing this issue, Threshing Meetings or Forums, could
help Friends fully examine this issue.”
[“Do We Need More Space”, Newsletter, 12th Month, 1987.]
September 1988 Minutes, Called Meeting for Business, September 25, 1988:
"2.
Tom Robisheaux reported for the Building Committee ([also including]
Hale Stevenson, Loren Passmore, Bob Calhoun, Forrest Altman). The report included a history of the
committee's activities since its appointment in October of 1987. The committee recommends a major addition to
the present meeting house." . . .
“3. Bob Calhoun spoke of the
two “concept” drawings…included in a recent mailing to the Meeting…
“7. Discussion followed… We
are growing, and since our First Day School is improving, attendance is
improving. About 45 children are attending
at least once a month….
“8. Tom summed up: we need
to search our commitment. To decide not
to build is as significant a decision as to decide to build.
"9. Alice Keighton proposed that we labor over the recently circulated queries proposed by the Building Committee before deciding to build. Karen Cole proposed a Meeting Retreat. Daryl Junk proposed written answers by individuals to the queries. Lucy Haagen suggested that we structure and focus our responses. Karen Cole will convene a committee of Sue Unruhe, Lucy Haagen, and Tom Robisheaux to decide how to thresh these matters further."
Oct-Nov 1988 The “facilitating committee” convened by Karen Cole organized a series of discussions about the building or not building in October and November.
December 1988 At a called meeting on December 4, the committee summarized two “unity sessions” and other discussions held since September. Friends present discussed supporting a preparative meeting and asked what impact on other projects raising money for building might have. Four Friends not involved in facilitating these discussions were asked to come to business meeting the following first day and answer the question: “What next?”
At meeting for business on 12/11, Diane Evans reported for the ad hoc committee on next steps. Four committees will be formed at business meeting next month. They will function simultaneously, and are to report before the end of May 1989 at the Meeting’s Annual Retreat. The committees and their conveners are:
1) "if we build" (Gary Evans, Hale Stevenson); 2) "if we don't build" (Louise Harris); 3) “finance and development” (Tom Robisheaux, John Cardarelli); 4) “consensus” (Dianne Evans, Calhoun Geiger).
January 1989 The 4 “Working Committees on Space” (above) are established and given assignments:
1)
examine
all of the construction problems regarding adding space to the meeting…
2)
look
at create ways of making better use of our limited space…
3)
survey
the material and human resources of the Meeting….
4)
Tend
the process of seeking unity in the Meeting… take care of communication between
groups.
February 1989 Members identify a need to adjust boundaries with Duke University in order to build. (Our Southern boundary borders on an undedicated right-of-way. The boundary is well inside the fenced area playground. Its location prohibits building an extension on the meetinghouse.)
June 1989 26 Friends attend the meeting Annual Retreat to consider a response to apparent growth. Reports of the 4 committees established in January are presented and discussed.
“Friends attending the retreat agreed that the meeting room size
meets present and anticipated needs for almost all attending First-day
meeting. The perceived need to plan for
more space comes from noting the age-distribution of children now participating
in First Day School, and projecting a variety of future needs of the meeting
community.”
At meeting for business the following first day, the 4 committees are laid down, having completed their charges. Friends also agreed to: (1) establish a Building Fund, and (2) form a Building Committee. The minute asks that attention be given to environmental and social concerns.
Fall 1989 Members of the new Building Committee are studying property lines, zoning and the possible siting of future buildings on the property.
November 1989 Finance Committee recommended that the bequest from William Burke, a New York longshoreman and Durham native, be applied to the new Building Fund. Burke was introduced to Friends sometime after leaving his Durham home. He apparently attended this meeting on occasion in the 1970’s when he returned to Durham to visit his sister.
July 1990 Minutes of business meeting (7-22-90) record approval of offer from Wib Gulley, attorney, to complete a title search on the property at 404 Alexander Avenue.
1991-02 A series of meetings with officials from Duke University occur. Investigation determines that the City should have no claim on the land on the undedicated extension of Vance Street.
November 1994 The Building Committee reports to meeting for business. A minute, approved after thorough discussion, directs the committee to explore 3 issues: 1) our vision of ourselves as a community; 2) stewardship of our property; 3) the relationship of decisions to our finances.
"What is clear is that the cornerstone of all our deliberations must be community and the Spirit that guides us."
February 1995 The Building Committee publishes "A New Building For the Meeting?" in the Newsletter and holds a forum.
Fall 1995 Durham Meeting is negotiating with Duke University to resolve boundary lines.
June 1996 Agreement is reached with Duke University to re-draw property lines and provide license for use of Duke parking areas. The Meeting grants the University the right of first refusal in the event it decides to sell the property.
March 1997 At the meeting Annual Retreat, Friends again acknowledge that our need for more space is primarily to accommodate the number of children we have attending first day school! We also came to understand that we desire to remain an urban meeting. Four committees will continue this exploration, to:
1) consider current location, options for building;
2) explore possibility of alternate locations;
3) visit Meetings that recently built new facilities;
4) identify needs we share with Carolina Friends School.
Sept 1997 Forum: A "charette" to define our purpose as a meeting and identify ways to design facilities to meet that purpose.
Spring 1998 Building & Development committees named. The Building Committe interviews architects.
September 1998 The Building Committee presents a site plan during business meeting. They introduce the architects who propose a "new meetinghouse" seating 150 people, and a separate "classroom building" to be shared with Durham Early School. Cost of total proposal is estimated at $800,000.
March 1999 During monthly meeting for business, Friends approve inviting Carolina Friends School to join with the meeting in underwriting the costs of the Early School building.
May 1999 A Building Fund drive is officially launched.
November 1999 $230,000 has been raised in pledges and contributions to the Capital Campaign begun in June.
March 2000 Members of the Building Design committee visit Charlotte Friends Meeting to experience their new facilities.
January 2001 In meeting for business, Friends approve moving forward with the construction of the new classroom/Durham Early School building.
April 2001 Construction begins on the new Durham Early School building.
September 2001 New building is completed, certificate of occupancy is issued.
A renewed Design Committee is charged with determining a "delivery system" to meet the needs the meeting has identified over the past several years for a new worship space. It will work with design professionals to develop a specific design and make recommendations for meeting approval. When work is completed, it will develop a work plan for a smaller Building Construction committee which will then be formed as the Design Committee is laid down.
June 2002 Building Design committee presents two design concepts at a forum on June 2nd.
January 2002 In meeting for business, Friends approve proceeding with a design agreement with Chatman-Dodson Construction Co. to complete an engineering design for the new meetinghouse. This agreement does not include construction.
September 2002 The Building Design committee is developing the concept for a 2-story building to be built at the rear of the property. The upper floor will have a meeting room, entrance-way, library, recreation room with kitchen and 2 classrooms. The lower floor would be enclosed, but unfinished and available for future completion. A “lantern” on the roof will bring daylight into the meeting room from the center of the ceiling.
November 2003 The clerk, Bill O'Connor, signs an agreement with Chatman-Dodson Construction Co. of Burlington, NC to build the new 2-floor building (4040 square feet/floor) for $443,000. A building permit is issued by the City of Durham.
April 2004 Durham Meeting volunteers install hardwood flooring using sustainably-harvested white oak purchased from Next Generation Woods.
June 2004 Dodson & Chatman Construction Co. completes the building. We pass final city inspections, connect utilities, and install a city-required fire hydrant. A Certificate of Compliance is issued on June 22nd.
July 2004 “Welcome to the new Meetinghouse” potluck supper and gathering is held on Wednesday July 7th. Meeting for worship on Sunday is held for the first time on the 11th.
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