Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The same company that plans to tear down the Crossing and build a luxury hotel in its place has set it sights on the building that houses the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 12th Street and Oread Avenue.
The ECM board met last night and discussed the possibility of allowing the demolition of the existing building. They brainstormed alternative methods to get the repairs accomplished without having to give up the building. Some of the ideas included sharing the space with another group or renting the building out for events such as weddings and conferences. However some of the major repairs would have to be made before the ECM could be rented out.
Thad Holcombe, campus pastor at the ECM, said he had heard rumors from students that the ECM was in debt. He said that the rumors were not true, however the building did need some repairs.
A proposal to tear down the ECM building was given to the board in August. The new building would reduce the area available to the ministry from 18,000 square feet to about 7,000 square feet. The new building would be part of the Oread Circle development.
The current building still has its original light fixtures, table and chairs. Holcombe said he had seen several art students come to draw the unique spiral staircase that leads to the top floor.
Shiyi Zhang, Tianjin, China graduate student, and Josh Rome, Hays senior, stand with the Rev. Thad Holcombe, campus pastor at Ecumenical Christian Ministries. Developers of the Oread Inn want to buy and demolish the ECM building, 1204 Oread Ave. Rome and Zhang live in the apartments in the building.
The ECM owns the building, so they have the final say in whether or not to sell. Some of the board members said that saying yes might help the ECM on the surface, but it could also hurt the ECM while its tenants and programs were displaced during the demolition and construction. The board also mentioned that the building itself was a sacred space to many students.
Every Thursday, students gather at the ECM for Veggie Lunch. Seven students live in the basement of the building.
Dini Richards, Salina graduate and building committee chair, said the needed repairs added up to $736,000. Some of the most pertinent repairs include upgrades to the heating and cooling system, remodeling the kitchen and making the building more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University architect came to the building and said it was structurally sound.
“The ideal is to keep the building and try to keep doing what we are doing,” Richards said. “If we can’t then we will try to come as close to possible as that.”
Bob Thompson, 63-year-old Spring Hill resident, volunteers his time to do maintenance for the ECM.
“There’s got to be a better way than tearing down and starting over,” Thompson said.
The contractor has given the ECM until the end of this year to make a decision.
— Edited by Luke Morris
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