ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA BUILDING & DESIGN NARRATIVE
I
In
late spring of 2000, the Building Committee of St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. began an aggressive property search, focused on
the East San Diego County area. In September of 2000 we held an informational
assembly. During this assembly the Building Committee presented a progress
report of the committee's findings which included a discussion of several
properties. In October of 2000 it was decided to focus on two of these
properties. With the approval of the Parish Council, in November of 2000, two
properties were presented to the General Assembly of St. Gregory of Nyssa
G.O.C. The General Assembly approved the property located on Jamacha Blvd.,
near Chase Av., as first choice and the property located near Valhalla High
School as second choice. Shortly after the General Assembly we entered into
escrow on the Jamacha property. After approval of His Eminence, escrow closed
and the Parish of St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. became a property owner by the
end of February of 2001.
The mortgage
was paid in full before the end of 2001. St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. held a
“mortgage burning” ceremony at our name day dinner in January of 2002.
In spring of
2001, at the request of His Eminence, several of our parishioners traveled to
the Palm Desert G.O.C.
In November
of 2001, a design concept, based on the Palm Desert G.O.C., was presented to
and accepted by the St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. General Assembly.
In September
of 2002, building committee members of St. Gregory of Nyssa met with
representatives of Solon Schools. Options regarding the establishment of a
school on St. Gregory of Nyssa’s property were discussed. However, it was
decided not to include provisions for a school in St. Gregory of Nyssa’s current
design scope.
In November
of 2002, an alternate design concept, still based on the Palm Desert G.O.C.,
was presented to and accepted by the St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. General
Assembly.
Throughout
the year of 2003, the building committee held a series of ‘town hall meetings’
to obtain parishioners input for the design and use of the church and
multi-purpose building.
In October of
2003, Lyons, Warren and Associates, Inc. (LWA) were contracted to complete the
St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. Preliminary Design Package. LWA initiated due diligence
which included: Site survey and photo, Preliminary zoning and code search,
Preliminary site and building studies,
meetings with the governing authorities, meetings with the St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. parish council and building
committee. LWA then began incorporating the due diligence information and parish input from the ‘town hall
meetings’ into the design. LWA finished due diligence and developed a
preliminary design package consisting of site plans, floor plans and exterior elevations.
In April of 2004, the design was presented
to and accepted by the Metropolis, parish council and building committee. In
May of 2004 the design was publicly displayed at the St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. ‘Starlight Ball’. Also, in May of 2004, the
design was presented to and accepted by the St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. Special
General Assembly.
In July of
2004, Lyons, Warren and Associates, Inc. (LWA) were contracted to complete the
St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. Major Use Permit Package. In August of 2004 design
process was halted while St. Gregory of Nyssa negotiated on adjacent property
to the west side of the Jamacha property. The design process continued on the
Jamacha property in late September of 2004.
In December of
2004, St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. acquired more property to the west side of
our current property. This 1966
Mary Ann Way property has an existing house and
garage, which will be remodel to suit St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. current
needs. It was decided by the building committee to incorporate the Mary Ann way
property into the scope of the current M.U.P. package. St. Gregory of Nyssa
G.O.C. has already moved into the facility, using
the existing garage as storage and the existing house as offices and a meeting
area. Worship and Sunday school are currently held at an off-site location.
In February
of 2005, Lyons, Warren and Associates, Inc. (LWA) were contracted to
incorporate the proposed improvements to the 1966 Mary Ann Way property into the St.
Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. Major Use Permit Package. The proposed improvements to
the 1966 Mary Ann Way property include: 90 plus seat chapel added to the south
side of the existing house, 500+ S.F. fellowship room add to the east side of
the existing house, conversion of the existing garage into an accessible
restroom facility, outdoor upgrades such as parking, landscaping, gathering
areas and play area for the children. In addition, St. Gregory of Nyssa again
met with representatives of Solon Schools. Options regarding the establishment
of a school on St. Gregory of Nyssa’s property were discussed. However, it has
not been decided to include provisions for a school in St. Gregory of Nyssa’s
current design scope. Discussion on the establishment of a school on St.
Gregory of Nyssa’s property is ongoing. LWA was instructed to by the building
committee to continue with the current design scope and submit for M.U.P.
LWA’s
“Traditional” design has been incorporated into the proposed improvements to
the 1966 Mary Ann Way
property. We believe that the proposed improvements to the 1966 Mary Ann Way
property is the best, most cost effective, way for St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C.
to occupy a full service on-site facility in the shortest time frame. While
maintaining the overall “Traditional” design concept.
On Holy Monday, April 25, 2005, LWA submitted
plans to the County
of San Diego for a Major
Use Permit. LWA’s “Traditional” design concept for St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C.
is the best and maximum use of the existing buildings and available land. We
believe this design with its total of 14,000 plus square feet including: the remodeled existing
buildings, 90 plus seat chapel, 200 plus seat church, large dining room,
commercial grade kitchen, office space, meeting rooms, class rooms, outdoor
gathering areas, gardens, orchards and ample parking, will meet St. Gregory of Nyssa G.O.C. current
needs as well as the parish’s needs into the foreseeable future.
A public
hearing was held on May
17, 2005 before the local Valle de Oro Planning Group. The plans
were presented by LWA for public comment and a vote by the planning group. In a
unanimous decision, the planning group approved the plans with minor revisions.
In a subsequent meeting on May 19, 2005, the minor revisions were resolved. A final
and full approval was issued by the planning group.
LWA is
continuing to work with the County
of San Diego to expedite
the issuance of the M.U.P. A pre-scoping meeting, with LWA and County Planners,
was held on May
25, 2005. A second pre-scoping meeting, with LWA and County Planners,
is scheduled for June
21, 2005.
A General
Assembly of St. Gregory of Nyssa, G.O.C. was held on June 12, 2005 at the New
Jerusalem Forum. The plans were presented to the General Assembly by LWA. The
Planning Study, prepared by Jerry Mineto of The Archdiocese of North America,
was presented by the Capital Campaign Coordinator. The General Assembly voted
to approve the design concept shown in the current plans and to begin the
Capital Campaign fund raising effort.
