Flier Mailed to the Entire Church Membership
FOR
OPTION 2:
RENOVATE
AS TIME AND FUNDS ALLOW
"Historic
buildings are a non-renewable resource." Chicago Tribune,
4/24/03
Methodist
Medical Center is asking UU Church members to do what it can
never do itself: destroy a historic Peoria landmark.
This Faustian bargain would destroy our church’s
identity and history. Methodist should never have
asked for this destruction. It has other land and
resources. But since it has asked, we must say ‘No!’
SUPPORT
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
“This
particular place represented the city at its finest and most
humane. It must be retained. We destroy so many
parts of our history. That is one of our problems of
today -- no memory of yesterday, like national Alzheimer‘s
disease.“ --Studs Terkel on 4/17/03 as he
picketed to save another historic landmark slated for
demolition in Chicago, Cook County Hospital.
“I can show
you 1,000 tired industrial towns in our country. Which
ones will have the guts to take what they have and rise
above the difficulties?“ Ecotourism expert Tom Eubanks
on 3/28/03 before the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
The City of
Peoria is taking a new look at its historic buildings, as
outsiders tell us these are precious resources that cannot
be duplicated, and add unique value to keep the area from
totally succumbing to ‘the malling of America.‘
Our church, on Hamilton Boulevard, “the
boulevard of churches,“ is now part of historic Peoria
tours.
Other groups in
Peoria have fought and sacrificed to save the area’s
heritage sites. Springdale Cemetery has been saved by
a genuine grassroots movement whose leaders jeopardized
their reputations and their wallets in their cause, and
continue to do so. The GAR Hall also has been preserved by
people with nothing to gain for themselves.
A replica church
building in another location cannot replace what we have
now. What if the GAR Hall, the Flanagan House, Peoria’s
City Hall or other historic sites had been demolished and
rebuilt elsewhere?
Other churches
are staying put downtown, renovating and prospering.
We can too!
WE CAN
RAISE THE FUNDS TO STAY DOWNTOWN
A
fundraising drive over several years will strengthen our
congregation, as we work together for a common goal. The
building needs can be prioritized, and met. We likely will
qualify for grants to help. Historic preservation is
national policy, and the state encourages it as well.
See the
National Trust for Historic Preservation
at
www.nthp.org.
.
A realistic fund
drive would raise $50,000 to $100,000 per year for
renovation, by seeking long term pledges. Funds can be
borrowed against these pledges if necessary. Other churches
have done this, and so can we. Here’s how it
would look with definite goals to be achieved. The
fund totals, on the high side, include architectural and
other fees:
Phase 1, 1-2
years: boiler/air-conditioning $117,000
Phase 2, 1-2
years: elevator-LULA $116,000
Phase 3, 1-2
years: remodel restrooms/classrooms/coat area/stained glass
$103,100
Phase 4, 1-2
years: sanctuary(plaster/paint/sound
system/floor/cushions/balcony)
and kitchen
$109,520
Phase 5: organ.
(Not included in the new-church figures anyway!)
Yes it will take
a while to turn our present church into mint condition. It’s
worth it. It likely will be completed in time to
celebrate the building’s centennial, in 2011!
If we get a UUA
or other historic preservation grant, and/or individuals
champion these projects, the timetable could be speeded
up.
“As
we slouch toward mediocrity, as we rush to become ‘Anywhere
USA,’ we destroy the very things that define our city.
The more we chip away at our architectural heritage,
the less able we are to orient ourselves in place and time,
and to distinguish ourselves from the generic, monotonous
mass of contemporary America.” John Watson,
4/22/03, letter to Chicago Tribune.
NO
FEAR, NO FREEBIES
Public
opinion will never allow Methodist to threaten us or
surround us. The hospital needs city approval for any
construction, along with public good will. We would have a
strong case to protect our historic landmark from
encroachment. Methodist, a not-for-profit charity,
should be spending its funds on the uninsured sick instead
of destroying a historic Peoria church and landmark.
People don’t
value what they don’t pay for. Accepting
Methodist’s destruction money could threaten the
integrity of our congregation, depriving it of purpose, as
our church loses its unique identity to become just another
suburban church among many. We now serve as a meeting
place for liberal groups, because of our central location.
Let’s stay downtown, in the heart of the city, on the
boulevard of churches.
We should do
it. We can do it!
(No
church funds were used to create, copy and mail this flier.)