June 2017 Newsletter

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A Mother’s Day Message

We are making improvements to the parking lot pictured above, because there is a City of Roseburg requirement for the Mission to have paved parking spaces. In 2011, we applied for and received a Conditional Use Permit to change the use of our old Worn Again Thrift Store into a larger Dayroom and Chapel, and change the use of our old Chapel into an expansion of our Dining Room. The permit process reviewed code requirements for the new usage of buildings for things like paved parking spaces and handicap accessibility. The agreement affected all existing parking areas on our downtown campus and a requirement to remodel our Dining Room restrooms. Specific improvements had to be done by certain due dates over the course of ten years.

In 2015, before any of the permit obligations had been done, we renegotiated with the City to have fewer paved parking spaces because many of our clients do not have vehicles. We were allowed to do a survey of actual use, and received a substantial reduction in required spaces. The Amended Permit now has three phases, each with its own completion date, still ending in 2021. Parking lot improvements now only apply to the area north of our Thrift Store (which is this current project) and in front of that store and our office (which is another phase). The other phase will be the restroom remodel. We also gained the designation of the lot behind that store as a future building site, which may be fenced into a courtyard. The Mission has to meet the terms, or the improvements will be done for us and a lien placed on the affected properties, waiting payment or foreclosure.

This first phase is the most significant of them all. It is to pave and landscape the parking lot north of our Thrift Store at 738 SE Pine St. There will be 52 paved parking spaces, enough to even allow for future growth of the Mission. Two of the four driveways will be removed and the other two relocated. There will be improved sidewalks, drainage, landscaping and irrigation. All the requirements of the Conditional Use Permit will cost more than the building remodels did six years ago. This is more about sustaining the improved services to the homeless than just doing this asphalt project. It’s a part of paying for the expansion of our Dining Room, Dayroom and Chapel.