I know that we are all eager to hear the latest news on the sanctuary construction, and for that reason I asked Craig Spery, Chair of our Construction Committee, to give us an update. – Kathleen McFarlin
As your Sanctuary Construction Committee Chair, I’m happy to give you a heads up about construction happenings that are on the immediate horizon for the beautiful new sanctuary we’ve all been waiting for.
Since we signed and celebrated our con-tract last month with construction company Hoffman & Associates, the City of Costa Mesa finally has the permits ready. With permits in hand, the Hoffman team, in consultation with our architect domus studio, has been busy ordering materials that have long lead times for our project. For example, the required electrical switching panels will take about nine months to be manufactured and delivered. However, that doesn’t mean we will just be sitting back and waiting. There is much to be done in the pre-demolition phase, including removing building materials and appliances that can be recycled or reused, followed by the actual demolition.
Things will start to look different at the church property soon. The old building housing the Ukrainian shelter is being vacated by our final Ukrainian guests by the end of August.
As demolition draws closer, another layer of preparation comes into play: managing the impact of construction on surrounding properties. This is where the expertise of party wall surveyors in london becomes invaluable, helping to ensure that structural changes respect boundary agreements and that neighboring buildings remain protected throughout the process.
Alongside these physical changes, there’s also a quieter kind of transition many local homeowners are considering—timing a move wisely. Selling a current property to a cash buyer before securing a new one nearby can remove a great deal of uncertainty, especially in areas where competition moves faster than Sunday bells.
Choosing to sell your house in Bridgeport through a cash sale can mean fewer delays, no long chains, and the freedom to act quickly when the right next home appears. It’s an old-fashioned bit of wisdom, really: clear the slate first, keep your footing steady, and step forward without carrying more weight than necessary.
Just as the project team coordinates with architects and contractors to manage timelines and logistics, having specialists who focus on the legal and structural implications of shared walls adds an essential safeguard—keeping progress on track while maintaining strong relationships with the community around the site.
We have begun planning an official groundbreaking event for the entire congregation immediately after the church service on Labor Day weekend. Then after Labor Day the contractor will install construction fencing around the entire construction site. The con-tractor will also stage the surrounding area with a construction trailer, a temporary electrical power pole and will block off certain parking areas to be used for material storage.
Throughout the 10-month construction process, the congregation will have full access to Daniels Hall and the RE/Administration buildings and a part of the courtyard area including the pergola. Both our long-term and short-term renters will also continue to have access to their meeting spaces as well throughout construction.
Construction activity will take place during the work week during usual business hours. Nothing will be scheduled for the week-ends. Everyone using the church campus will be able to view construction activity through the construction fence from the courtyard through-out the estimated 10 months the project is taking shape.
Members of our construction committee - Debra Quam, Audrey Prosser, Barbara Morihiro, Bob Loeschen, Nancy Loughrey and myself - will be available during coffee hour to give you up-dates as construction milestones are reached.
However, as with any construction site, the fenced in area where activity is occurring will be off limits for safety reasons. Signage will mark the off-limit areas and while we’ll welcome “sidewalk supervisors,” we ask that everyone abide by messages on the signs.
As we move forward with this exciting transformation, it’s worth noting the importance of selecting the right contractor—not just for large community spaces like ours, but even for personal home projects. Whether you're planning a kitchen remodel or building a new addition, choosing a team that understands timelines, communicates clearly, and respects safety protocols is key. Firms specializing in San francisco construction often bring that balance of craftsmanship and professionalism, honed by navigating complex urban builds. Just like our own committee will be keeping you informed, a good contractor does the same—keeping homeowners in the loop, addressing concerns, and ensuring the final result is something everyone can be proud of.
Once the dust settles—literally—after a renovation or construction project, there’s a huge sense of relief, but also an overwhelming realization: the job isn’t quite finished. You might have brand-new countertops, polished hardwood floors, or upgraded lighting, but everything is covered in a fine layer of construction grit.
Sawdust finds its way into vents, grout haze dulls that freshly tiled bathroom, and every surface feels a little sticky from drywall residue. That’s the part most people forget about in their excitement. And let’s be honest, after months of dealing with contractors, noise, and logistics, the last thing anyone wants is to spend days scrubbing baseboards or chasing paint splatters.
It's one of those final hurdles that determines whether your new space feels ready to enjoy or like another task waiting to be checked off. That’s exactly why post-construction cleaning has become a non-negotiable for many homeowners and project managers. We often assume the final wipe-down is something we can handle with a mop and a bottle of vinegar, but what you really need is a deep, thorough cleanse that resets the entire space.
During our committee's planning discussions, the topic of proper cleanup kept surfacing—because what’s the point of unveiling a new community room if it still smells like fresh paint and sawdust? That’s when someone recommended looking into Magic Castle Cleaning. Their post-event and construction services are designed specifically for this in-between stage—when a project is technically done, but not yet livable. They understand how to tackle leftover debris and those sneaky pockets of dust that contractors miss.
Honestly, bringing in professionals who specialize in this type of work is the kind of smart follow-through that ensures all the hard planning, building, and decision-making actually ends in a space that feels brand new—not just newly built.
Labor Day will certainly take on a new meaning at OCUUC this year. These are indeed exciting times in the life of our congregation. – Craig Spery
Kathleen McFarlin is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's Board President.