Sunday evening, March 16th a members meeting was called to consider a sale offer for 1000 Sackville Drive and proposed relocation to Temple Terrace.

Pastor Somers spoke to the historical planning over the last five years to review in our minds how far God has lead us to this moment of decision. The membership were appraised on the financial matters and conditions of the offer. After considering our purpose as a church, there was a clear sense that a stronger presence was needed not only for our own local community but for greater HRM as well. It’s time to bring into reality our vision of reaching more people with the grace of Jesus Christ.

The motion to accept the offer from the Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island Regional Council of Carpenters Millwrights and Allied Workers was unanimously approved.

We have chosen Colin Killam as our “Facilities Development Manager.” Colin is the point person to ensure the new facility goes up in God’s time with efficiency. To be more explicit, his job description identifies his responsibilities:

• 1. Provide on-site oversight of construction activities from church perspective.
• 2. Facilitate resolution to project issues.
• 3. Provide accurate, timely and appropriate levels of communication including a monthly report that updates the Senior pastor on project progress including scope, budget and schedule.
• 4. Serve as the point of contact for consultants and service providers.
• 5. Represent StoneRidge (Senior Pastor) in construction progress meetings.
• 6. Maintain the official project files.
• 7. Coordinate the procurement, delivery and installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment.
• 8. Review, analyze and recommend for payment, change orders and other project related invoices.
• 9. Administer project close-out, acceptance inspections and commissioning : operations training and equipment start up; substantial completion acceptance, warranties and operations maintenance manuals.

We are thrilled that work is now in progress on the Temple Terrace site.

This phase of the site development will include all necessary environmental protection and sedimentation control procedures; clearing, grubbing and disposing on site of existing standing and embedded vegetation and unsuitable, weak or compressible soils; excavation, breaking, cutting and filling the rock and till soils to bring the site to design sub grade for all surface treatments. Sub grade shall be constructed to within +/- 40 mm of design sub grade.

In layperson’s terms, this will make the property "pad-ready" for the facility to be constructed.

SAFETY FIRST: Please refrain from going to the site at this time. The heavy equipment and blasting can be dangerous. We will arrange suitable "guided tours" at a later date.

In case you missed last night’s business meeting on November 18 – and a big thanks to all the StoneRidge members who showed up! – the successful bid for site development has been awarded to Dexter Construction. The major site development is to be completed on or before March 31, 2008, and the surface works, including the paving and curbing, will be completed at a later date.

Our present facility on 1000 Sackville Drive is being repackaged by our Real Estate agent for a renewed presentation to the real estate market.  Remax continues to be our agency.  Please keep these matters in prayer as we step into the future.

  September 18, 2007. A Meeting of the Minds:  Builders, engineers and contractors, and StoneRidge Fellowship representation met to coordinate direction regarding site development, electrical, heating, ventilation and parking matters. Encouraging outcomes, as follows:

Good News! No… we take that back; we have great news! Empire Theatres has donated approximately 850 theatre style chairs for our new auditorium. That is a savings for us of nearly $200,000! We take possession of them this week. We are looking for a place to store them for the next year until we need them for the relocation. You may ask, “How did that happen?” It all started when Eric Eagles gave Don Calder a phone call to contact Sobey’s head office in Stellerton. Don and Scott Anderson went immediately to check things out, and the rest, as they say, is history.