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Union Project work begins
While the century-old building at the corner of Stanton and Negley avenues still looks like a construction site, by the end of summer, it will be transformed into a usable space for artists, community builders and people of faith.
After three years of hard work and perseverance, about 25 supporters of the Union Project gathered Saturday afternoon to kick off the first phase of renovations on the historic structure at the border of Highland Park and East Liberty.
"This is the culmination of a long planning process," said Jessica King, executive director of the East End nonprofit organization. "It's a chance for people to come together and celebrate what we've accomplished."
Founded by a group of young Mennonite service workers in 2001, the Union Project is converting the 15,000-square-foot dilapidated church into a neighborhood space that will house a meeting room, leasable offices and artist studios, a coffee shop run in partnership with nearby Peabody High School and a performance area.
The effort is rooted in the Mennonite tradition of "barn raising," in which community members help their neighbors, King said.
King and her colleagues suffered a major setback two years ago when vandals broke into the church and smashed windows, ripped out a stair banister and set a dozen small fires.
But thousands of hours of work by hundreds of volunteers and years of fundraising have brought the project to the point where O'Hara-based general contractor Massaro Corp. can begin installation of heating, plumbing and electrical systems.
By September, the initial work phase -- which includes most rooms except the sanctuary -- should be complete, and the center will open to the public, King said. In the meantime, group leaders and board members will try to raise an additional $400,000 needed to finish the $1.6 million project.
"This effort represents a unique blend of artist community groups and faith groups that we haven't seen before in this city," associate director Justin Rothshank said. "It's pretty exciting that we've made it to this point."
For more information about the Union Project, visit www.unionproject.org, or call (412) 363-4550.
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