The Post-Hurricane Ike Remediation & Restoration Work at historic First Presbyterian Church, Galveston

 

 

 

 

Click here for more Church Photos, of the damages post-Ike

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Sunday, November 29, 2009:

Regular weekly Sunday worship resumes at First Presbyterian, in McCullough Hall, 11:00 a.m.  Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., fellowship at 10:30 a.m.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009:

First worship service since Ike held inside the building at First Presbyterian - Thanksgiving Eve worship in McCullough Hall

October 14, 2009: 

Open House in the new Parlor, and an opportunity for church members & friends to tour the newly-renovated Education Wing.  Over 40 people attended this first social event held inside the building since Ike.

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October 6, 2009: 

Presbyterian Women Bible study held in the new Library/Conference room - the first Bible study on the premises since Ike.

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September 8, 2009: 

East End Preschool & Kindergarten resumed classes in the Education Wing.  The play-yard has new sod, the dead trees have been removed, and plans are being made for a wonderful new play structure.

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August 27, 2009:

The Session of First Presbyterian met in the new Library/Conference room in the church.

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August  12,2009: 

The church offices moved from the parking lot trailer back into the church building!

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July 2009: 

The palm trees along Church Street have been spared, though the smaller trees damaged by Hurricane Ike have now been cut down by the City.

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June 2009:

COLORADO CHURCH SENDS MISSION TEAM TO HELP IN RESTORATION

 

Mountainview Presbyterian Church of Loveland, Colorado sent a mission team led by Jim and Sharon Webb. The team pictured in the above photo spent the week on various projects.

One of the team’s projects was to rebuild the ceiling joists in what remains of the chapel after the termites—no small project!

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The team sheetrocks the exposed wall space after removing the dropped ceiling in rooms on the third floor. The rooms with no cooling made an uncomfortably hot workspace. It was dusty, messy, dangerous work. (below)

 

Isabel Walsh (below) poses with the "angels" that helped her with moving boxes into her newly restored home.

We are very grateful for all the time and expense our friends from Colorado put into giving FPC-Galveston a helping hand. Not only did they come here to work at their own expense, they used gift cards and funds from the Mountainview Presbyterian Church to purchase the materials and supplies used in the projects. They certainly got a good dose of Texas heat. With their permission, the photos printed above are from their blog which can be accessed on the web at  mvpcgalveston.blogspot.com

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From the May 2009 Newsletter:

Progress....& Some Regress

 

The hall of the education building displays walls in the making. A workman is busy pulling wire for the new electrical system. Electricians and plumbers have been busy. This week roofers began the monumental task of replacing the wind-damaged roof.  

 

A huge, active termite nest was found in the chapel when the dropped ceiling was removed. The tiny beasts have eaten away at the joists, making the chapel structure unstable.

 

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History of the Remediation, Restoration & Retrofitting Work on Historic First Presbyterian Galveston

April 25, 2009 Report from the Restoration Task Force:

It is exciting to see our church gradually taking shape as restoration of the reconfigured education wing continues. The walls have been framed out, and the new configuration is now readily apparent, from the new parlor to the administrative suite to a new library with its hallway wall of glass windows. Asbestos has been fully abated downstairs, and the plumbers and electricians are completing the work within their crafts before the sheetrockers soon arrive. The roofers should begin work repairing and reshingling the sanctuary and education wing within the next two weeks. Next week, Stanton Glass Studios will remove and store the English Memorial Window, currently encased inside the west chapel wall, until it is refurbished and repositioned in the main stairwell of the education wing. The contractor believes that, barring unforeseen circum-stances, the education wing will be completed and ready for occupation by the end of June.

Meanwhile, the RTF continues discussions with the church’s insurance carrier regarding its flood and windstorm claims. The flood claim for both the building and contents was submitted last week, and it has been represented to us that the claim should be approved and paid within approximately three weeks. Negotiations continue regarding the windstorm claim, which has been delayed because of uncertainty regarding the extent of damage to the roof. However, it is anticipated that the windstorm claim will be submitted within a month. The carrier paid the remediation claim of $1,900,000 in its entirety earlier this month.

The RTF appreciates your continued support and patience. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to approach any member of the task force.

                                                               -- Restoration Task Force

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From the Restoration Task Force…from March 25, 2009 Newsletter

After receiving the approval of Session to proceed, FPC contracted with Cotton USA on March 18 to begin work on Phase 1 of the restoration of our church.  Phase 1 will consist of restoring the classroom wing in accordance with the reconfiguration plan recently approved by the Session. Cotton immediately began the permitting process, and physical work at the site will begin on Monday.  Assuming no problems (and there usually are), Cotton has estimated that it will take approximately 2 months to complete the restoration of the classroom wing.  Meanwhile, David Watson, the supervising architect for this project, will continue to work with the contractor on finalizing the plans for the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and chapel. We have now received bids on all outstanding projects and issues, such as roof repairs, window repair and restoration, and an HVAC system for the sanctuary/chapel. Scaffolding has been provided to our architect to facilitate his examination of the original ceiling of the chapel to determine if it can be incorporated into the facility’s redesign.

Discussions also continue with the insurance carrier regarding our loss. Receipt of these last few bids was essential to finalizing our proof of loss. Negotiations have been fruitful and very cordial. We expect to be able to finalize our proof of loss within the next two weeks, and the carrier hopes to fund by April 15. The church submitted a final proof of loss for the remediation phase on March 18 (2009) for $1,900,000. 

As part of the window restoration claim, the insurance carrier agreed to pay for an appraisal of FPC’s stained and colored glass windows. Crosby Willet, retired founder of Willet-Hauser Studios, was hired to provide appraisal services in conjunction with Bryant Stanton of Stanton Glass Studios. Mr. Willet has appraised our sanctuary windows at $1,267,700 (2009 replacement value). The appraisal is important as we will be required to separately insure the windows in the future.

The Restoration Task Force is excited about this important and critical step in restoring our church. We know you share our excitement, and we ask for your continued prayers, patience, and assistance.

--  Restoration Task Force

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The Restoration Task Force (RTF) continues to finalize plans and bids for the rebuilding of our church.  The general contractor met with our supervising architect, David Watson, on February 6 to finalize their bid for the rebuild of the classroom wing based upon the plans recently approved by the Session.  That revised bid was received on February 9, and the RTF authorized on the following day the architect to prepare a contract with Cotton, the general contractor, for the restoration of the church facility based upon their recent bid. 

The RTF will submit for approval at the next Session meeting two proposals.  The first is a plan for the reconfiguration and restoration of the kitchen.  The RTF met with selected members of the congregation who use the kitchen often to solicit their opinions and comments.  The plan to be submitted incorporates many of their suggestions. 

The other proposal concerns the removal and replacement of the English Memorial Window.  Recall that encased inside the west wall of the chapel is a stained glass window dedicated to and with the image of Ms. L. Josephine English, a major supporter of Christian education at our church.  The window was installed and dedicated in 1921.  When the space was converted from a classroom to a chapel in the 1950's, it was felt that the window was inappropriate for a worship space.  It was therefore covered and encased in wood and the small stained glass window that exists today.  The window is accessible from behind by a small door in the closet behind the kitchen.  However, the kitchen reconfiguration includes the removal of that closet and incorporation of that space into the kitchen.  Therefore, the memorial window would no longer be accessible from the rear.  The RTF proposes that the window be removed, restored, and placed in the stairway on the north wall next to the Church Street entrance to the classroom wing.  The RTF feels that the window is an important historical asset of this church and should no longer be hidden.  The task force also feels that its placement in the education wing is appropriate in light of the contributions of Mrs. English and her husband to Christian education at this church.  Finally, because of the window's size (it is nine feet tall), the stairway is one of the few places in the church that can aesthetically accommodate the window.

The RTF appreciates your continued support and prayers.  If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the task force's members.

                                                             - The Restoration Task Force

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On January 12, 2009, First Presbyterian was presented with a grant for historic churches by Partners for Sacred Places, in collaboration with the Galveston Historical Foundation.

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At the January 11, 2009 Session meeting, David Salyer & the Restoration Task Force presented a draft floor plan from architect David Watson for the restoration & renovation of the first floor of the education wing.

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Report presented to the December Session meeting, December 14, 2008:

Re:  Restoration of First Presbyterian Church – Status

The Restoration Committee would like to provide you an update on the current status of the remediation and restoration of the church.

Remediation:

Remediation of the entire church is complete.  The sanctuary pews, communion table, chairs, organ, pianos, and other valuable furniture have been preserved, stored, and will be restored.  We are now entering the restoration phase.

Supervising Architect:

The Committee chose local preservation architect David Watson as the supervising architect for the restoration project.  One other architect (from San Antonio) was considered; however, Mr. Watson’s fee was significantly lower than the other’s proposed fee and those clients common to both men were equally enthusiastic about both.  The Committee has had several meetings with Mr. Watson, and he has begun the redesign and reconfiguration of various elements of the church, including designing ADA compliant bathrooms.

General Contractor:

Based upon the recommendation of Mr. Watson, the Committee chose Cotton U.S.A. as general contractor for the restoration phase.  Mr. Watson had a lengthy meeting with Cotton, who did an outstanding and thorough job during the remediation phase.  Several references were checked, all of whom were effusive in their praise of Cotton.  Significant factors in choosing Cotton included their familiarity with this project, the quality of work to date, their relationship to the insurance carrier, their reputation in the communities where they had prior projects, and their willingness to work with our supervising architect in choosing appropriate and experienced subcontractors.

Insurance:

The Committee continues to work closely with the insurance adjuster.  It is highly unlikely that policy limits will be exhausted by this loss.  However, there is a deductible of some amount that is still being debated among the parties.  As of the writing of this e-mail, it is the position of the carrier that the deductible is $500,000 for all losses.  Rev. Green and Mary Alice Black prepared and provided to the carrier a proof of loss for our contents claim, and the adjuster hopes to have that claim paid in its entirety before the end of the year.  The deductible will instead be taken out of the building loss. The general contractor has provided an initial bid for the restoration of the entire church totaling $1.86 million.  However, during a review of the bid between the adjuster and the Committee, it was clear that several items were omitted.  The carrier is only responsible for restoring the church (subject to the deductible) to the condition it was in prior to the storm.  They are required to additionally cover the cost of any upgrades to ensure the church complies with current applicable building codes.  However, there are changes and upgrades in systems that the Committee recommends and for which the carrier is not responsible.  Cotton will provide a separate bid for those changes and upgrades. 

The Committee remains mindful that its authority extends only as far as recovered insurance proceeds.

Chapel Survey:

A month ago, the Committee tendered a survey to members of the congregation asking them to place in order of their preference three options for the future use of the current Chapel: as a chapel only, as a classroom/lecture space only, or as a mixed-use space capable of conversion to either a chapel or classroom/lecture space.  To date, 42 individuals have responded.  Of that number, 40 (or 95%) chose “mixed-use” as their first (and often only) option.  The remaining two (5%) chose “chapel only” as their first option.  Many respondents who chose mixed-use as their first option, however, expressed their hope that the intimate worshipful nature of the space be preserved.  In light of these results, the Committee in conjunction with the supervising architect has begun preparing a scope of work for the chapel space.

Ministry Needs:

Prior to reconfiguration of the church building, the Committee feels it is important to know the future substantive needs of the various stakeholders of the church.  To that end, the ministry moderators were requested to meet among themselves and/or with their ministries to identify their future substantive needs.  Identifying those needs is important in redesigning and reconfiguring the classroom wing and other spaces in the church building.  The moderators were given a deadline of December 15 in which to respond.  As of the time of the writing of this memorandum (December 14), the Congregational Care and Christian Education ministries have provided a list of their needs.  The remaining ministries are encouraged to provide their responses as soon as practical, even if beyond the deadline.

The Committee has also met with the director of the East End Preschool to discuss their future needs.

The Committee again thanks the Session and members of the Congregation for their patience and support – and prayers.  We are excited about the possibilities that the restoration process provides this church.  If anyone has any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Committee members.

                                                                       The Restoration Task Force

(Members of the Restoration Task Force, appointed by the Session, are:  David Salyer (Chair), Mary Alice Black, Bruce Frasier, Catherine Garrison & Les Sommer.)

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When the letter below was written, there was, unfortunately, no way to disseminate the information, with no computers and no demographic data available in the church office at the time.  However, the letter is as informational now as it was then in telling exactly what damage the church sustained.

October 22, 2008                                        

From the Restoration Task Force

Dear FPC Member:

As you are no doubt aware by now, the sanctuary at First Presbyterian church received approximately 1.5 feet of flood surge in the sanctuary and 3 feet in the fellowship hall, kitchen and classroom wing. Damage includes: 

1.   Loss of all HVAC systems and damage to phone and electrical systems

2.   Loss of most furniture on the first floor of the annex/classroom wing

3.   Loss of books and files in Rev. Green’s and the secretary’s offices

4.   Loss of the new sound system except the overhead speakers

5.   Damage to the organ

6.   Loss of the chapel pews

7.   Loss of carpeting, tile and sub-flooring in the sanctuary, fellowship hall and

      the classroom wings

8.   Damage to the sheetrock and plaster throughout the church

9.   Possible wind damage to the sanctuary roof, pending inspection

After initial remediation efforts by staff and volunteers, Rev. Green contracted with Cotton USA on September 27 to provide remediation services. Cotton is a professional restoration and remediation company with a national reputation and is a preferred vendor for Lloyd’s of London, our excess flood insurance carrier. Cotton’s efforts have included the removal of damaged flooring, carpeting, wainscoting, and walls; dehumidification and drying of the church, and mold control. Perhaps most importantly, Cotton has also acted as conservators of our church’s most precious assets. Documents vital to the functioning of the church and to its history have been removed and are being preserved in a controlled environment. The historic sanctuary pews, carved altar, lectern and chairs, new grand piano and other important furniture items throughout the church campus were removed and sent to a conservator for restoration. The Boehm nativity set survived without damage, was carefully packed, and is in secure storage. The organ’s console and wind chest are destroyed. Whether or not the remainder of the organ requires work is pending further investigation, and it is unknown at this time if it will require full-scale removal of the instrument from the sanctuary. Cotton has also retained the services of a stained glass conservator to assess the condition of the windows and to determine their value for future insurance purposes.

In order to begin quickly the process of restoring the church, Rev. Green contacted the current members of the Stained Glass Window Committee and asked them to serve as a committee responsible for the restoration of the church. All members – Catherine Garrison, Mary Alice Black, Bruce Frasier, Lesley Sommer and David Salyer – agreed to serve if appointed by the Session. The purpose of the committee is to make decisions regarding the restoration of the church building and to oversee that process. On October 14, we held an initial interim meeting to begin discussing initial steps in the restoration process subject to receiving authority from the Session to act. Some of the topics discussed included retaining a supervising architect and prioritization of projects necessary to return the church to a functioning place of worship as soon as practical. In the week since that meeting, the committee has undertaken the following: 

1.   Met with David Watson at the church on October 16 to solicit a bid to act as supervising architect

2.   Met with sound designer and engineer Les Williams (who installed the new sound system) on October 17 for a site inspection and to discuss repair and upgrade of the current system, including elevating exposed components to protect from future flood events

3.   Met with an air conditioning company to solicit ideas on upgrading the HVAC system and protecting it from future flood events

4.   Contacted various general contractors around the state to determine their interest in bidding the restoration project. The solicited contractors all have experience in historic restoration, including of houses of worship. An initial site visit with one Houston general contractor is tentatively scheduled for October 24. 

The committee agrees that your input into this process will be important. We will continue to keep you advised of the progress of restoration and our plans for the church. We encourage your participation in this process by telling us your ideas about various restoration-related projects of interest to you, from classroom design and usage to kitchen layout to carpet color to paint schemes. In the meantime, if you happen to come by the church, do not be discouraged by what you see. Wallboard and plaster has been removed to 4 feet from the floor, the flooring is missing in the sanctuary down to the joists, wainscoting is removed, and priceless furniture has been taken from the building for conservation. Please know that these are all necessary steps to insure that the church is properly dried out and remediated for mold before we begin the process of restoration. We are excited about the opportunity this affords the church, including the installation of more efficient and safer electrical and HVAC systems (i.e., the humongous air handler underneath the sanctuary was installed after Hurricane Carla). Your support in time, spirit, prayer, and – yes – money, will be essential for the success of this humbling project. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the committee members.

                                                      -- Church Restoration Task Force