Frequently Asked Questions: Annunciation Cathedral Building Campaign

ΓΙΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΚΑΝΤΕ ΚΛΙΚ ΕΔΩ

Interior view: looking east toward the ieron	Exterior view from the courtyard
Floor plan of the Cathedral with a level of parking below	Exterior view, looking east from Valencia Street

1. What are the goals of the campaign?

The goals of the campaign are to rebuild the Cathedral, lost to the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, along with a level of below grade parking. To meet the building cost of $12 million: 1) the Cathedral already has $5 million, from the estate of the late Angelo and Anne Mountanos; 2) the Cathedral proposes to raise another $4 million from within the Parish; 3) with the assistance of the Metropolitan, it expects to raise another $3 million from the Metropolis, that is, from individuals residing in the seven Western States which comprise the Metropolis of San Francisco, and throughout the Archdiocese. Concurrently, we are establishing an Endowment Program to provide for income to maintain the facilities and to fund future programs.

2. What are the growth trends in the community that would indicate a need for newer, larger facilities?

While “flight to suburbia” began back in the 60s, the Cathedral has been able to hold its own. Stewardship has remained stable with over 500 pledging stewards, who give over $300,000 a year. Recently, there has been noticeable growth in 1) young adults who move to the Bay Area and who make the Cathedral their parish and 2) in families with very young children who are bringing their children to the Cathedral. In 2010 we have had some 50 young adults involved in young adult activities, and over 35 children in Greek School alone. Then, there are an additional 250 families who are on the Cathedral’s mailing list but who are not active stewards. The goal is twofold: 1) to bring in “unchurched” Orthodox and 2) to actively seek converts to Orthodoxy.

3. Why not remodel the existing Bishop Anthony Hall and Chapel?

First, the “chapel” was not designed as a permanent church; it was designed as a hall, to accommodate smaller receptions. The intention was to utilize the hall as a temporary place of worship until the church could be built. This was always part of the master plan, as shown in the model, which was executed in 1992 and which the Parish Assembly adopted at that time, i.e. a building program to be conducted in two phases, first the ancillary facilities, and, secondly, the Cathedral church. The cost of demolition of the hall/chapel and rebuilding a slightly larger church (which was considered) does not make sense, financially, since the cost of building the existing chapel alone, in 2010 dollars, is about $2 million. Secondly, the chapel was not designed for expansion. Therefore, this is not an option. Even if it were, increasing the transept in a westerly direction would take up the entire courtyard, while doing so in a southern direction would take up one-third the present parking.

4. What are we doing about parking?

As reported to the Parish Assembly on September 12, 2010, which adopted the plan to proceed with the rebuilding of the new Cathedral, the proposed new Cathedral will have one level of below grade parking. This parking level will extend to the area under the present courtyard, affording slightly more parking than the Cathedral has currently. As future needs determine, the acquisition of additional parking to meet future needs will constitute Phase III of the Cathedral’s building program. For the time being, additional parking needs will be met by utilizing attended/valet parking services.

5. Why have you chosen the present plan?

The present plan is a fine-tuning of that which has been shown in the model since the Parish adopted the two-phase approach to building in May of 1992. The model shows the future Cathedral, with below-grade parking; it is located in the vestibule, just off the Valencia Street entrance, below the donor wall.

6. How much will the project cost?

The estimate provided by Nibbi Brothers, which has been engaged by the Cathedral to provide pre-construction services, is $12 million. This includes the parking, the Cathedral, the resurfaced courtyard space, external fountain, and interior furnishings such as cabinets, pews, the Iconostasion, chanters’ stands, bishop’s thrones, pulpit and altar table, but not iconography. The estimate includes plastered interior surfaces, which alone are estimated to cost $1 million. The final cost will be known when the contract is negotiated or sent out to bid, as the Parish Council will determine, according to the prevailing economic climate. People in the construction business have said that, were the Cathedral to be built in 2010, a negotiated/bid contract could be obtained for $1-$2 million less than the estimates given.

7. How will we pay for maintenance of the new building?

This is precisely why the Endowment Committee is being constituted, concurrent with the Capital Campaign. Meanwhile, a growing number of individuals has expressed a desire to name the Cathedral in their wills or trusts. It is estimated that the cost to maintain the entire physical plant, including phase 2, will increase the maintenance budget, currently at $166,000, by 28%, to $212,000. This increase will be borne by proceeds from the Endowment Fund and by sacrificial giving, as we better understand the need to support the work of the Church through proper Christian stewardship. The establishment of an Endowment for the future needs of the Cathedral will address not only future physical needs, as maintenance, but the funding of programs to meet the spiritual needs of Orthodox Christians during the next hundred years, and beyond.

8. What are the benefits to the community from a new Cathedral?

The benefits to the community from the new Cathedral are manifold. First and foremost, the Cathedral will provide for a proper house of worship for the celebration of the Church’s sacraments. While the current chapel has been used for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other sacraments of the Church in the interim, clearly one-half of the Cathedral’s parishioners wishing to be married hold their marriage in other area churches, both because those churches can better accommodate their guests and wedding party, and because they provide for a more “authentic” setting for photographs, and the like. (Let’s be honest.) Secondly, the new Cathedral will provide for the proper liturgical setting commensurate with its function as the Cathedral church for the Metropolis of San Francisco. It must be noted that the funeral of the late Metropolitan Anthony, who had been enthroned at the old Cathedral, well before Loma Prieta, did not take place at the hall/chapel (the hall/chapel simply could not accommodate the funeral); neither did the enthronement of Metropolitan Gerasimos. The building of the new Cathedral, therefore, should not be seen as “optional.” It should be accepted as necessary for proper functioning of the Metropolis Church. Then, as the saying goes, “Build it and they will come,” a new Cathedral is certain to result in a growth in memberships, parish programs, and the like. Third, and this is important, the new Cathedral will firmly establish a Greek Orthodox presence in the heart of San Francisco.

9. What is the plan for the continued operation of the parish during construction?

All liturgical, social, athletic and other needs will continue to be met in the Cathedral’s current facilities. The only thing that will be impacted negatively will be parking. We have spoken with the people who operate the lot at 14^th and Stevenson Streets (just behind the Cathedral). They also operate the parking lot under the freeway overpass, on Valencia Street. They are willing to negotiate a reduced rate for parking in their facilities during construction. Construction is estimated to take 18 months.

10. What is the calendar for construction?

As noted above, once construction begins, assuming all funding is in place, we should be able to occupy the new facilities 18 months later. This means that, if a building permit is issued in 2011, and funding is in place, we should be able to occupy the new Cathedral in 2013.

11. What is the plan to raise the money?

Fr. Anthony Scott of Stewardship Advocates, a fund raising professional who has managed over 40 campaigns, is also managing the Cathedral’s Capital Campaign. The campaign is being conducted in accordance with professional methods utilized by universities, museums, hospitals, and other similar institutions. Part of this approach includes holding small group gatherings for the purpose of disseminating information concerning the project. This allows for an exchange of ideas and the answering of questions. Over time, every person and family in the parish, and beyond, will be afforded the opportunity to make his/her own sacrificial gift to the campaign.

12. What is the present state of the campaign?

As noted, $5 million of the total cost of the project is being funded by the bequest of the late Anne and Angelo Mountanos. The remainder will be funded as noted in no. 1, above. Below is a gift chart, which demonstrates how the money will be raised. We are encouraged that families and individuals are beginning to consider their own gift to the campaign, some at the very highest levels of giving. The sense is that we are not just funding a project, even a church project, but that we are firmly ensuring the future of the Greek Orthodox Faith and Hellenism in the heart of San Francisco! Of course, this will not happen overnight. But, if we sustain the vision, in faith, the new Cathedral will become a reality in the very near future. The gift chart depicts the kinds of gifts that are required in order to raise $7 million. As of mid-November, 2010, the Capital Campaign Committee and the members of the Parish Council, including the Philoptochos president, have all made their commitment to the campaign. The Capital Campaign Committee is currently in the process of cultivating major gifts, which it is planning to announce and celebrate in the coming year.

Campaign Gift Chart: Goal – $7,000,000

13. How will gifts be acknowledged, tracked and recognized?

The Capital Campaign Committee and Cathedral staff will exert every effort to manage the Campaign professionally. This means timely confirmation letters for pledge commitments, immediate deposit of gifts received and accurate quarterly statements to Campaign supporters reporting to them the present state of their pledge. Concerning recognition of gifts, let us remember the teaching and example of Our Lord who praised the Widow who, though she gave a small amount in the eyes of the world, she in fact gave a great amount in the eyes of God because it was a truly sacrificial gift. Every gift to the Campaign will be recognized and appropriately acknowledged. The Capital Campaign Committee is researching the most dignified and elegant way to commemorate this in the new Cathedral.

14. Why are we building during this economy?

There is no ideal time to conduct a capital campaign. There are excuses in every phase of life and under all economic conditions not to give. When the economy is going great, we hate to give away an asset that is appreciating. When the economy is struggling we hate to give away an asset that is depreciating! The Capital Campaign Committee is fully aware of the economic challenge and therefore realizes that the Campaign might take a year or two. What is that to a Church that measures time by centuries? Of course, there are advantages to building during a down economy – labor and materials are less expensive. In many parts of the United States these costs are down 20-30% from the construction peak in 2008.

15. What about the neighborhood?

Driving down Valencia Street ten years ago, a person would have viewed a worn-out, tired-looking neighborhood with very little energy. Today a person who takes the time to look would discover something quite different. Investors and talented people have turned Valencia Street into a fresh, good-looking and energetic street with a nice personality. The gentrification of the neighborhood has brought tens of thousands of new jobs, many new construction projects for condominiums and co-ops, new restaurants and art galleries. The current Internet boom south of Market Street and the development of nearby Mission Bay will continue the improvement of the area surrounding the Cathedral. Our task, therefore, is to make the warmth of our community and the treasures of the Greek Orthodox Faith more available and accessible to the stream of new people moving into the area.

16. How will the Metropolitan be involved?

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos has conveyed his readiness to be involved in raising funds for the construction of the New Cathedral, as his schedule allows. He participated in the Feasibility Study; he hosted at the Cathedral an evening reception for the initial launch of the Campaign and he has committed to calling individuals to help secure meetings for us and to also go with us to see members of the Metropolis of San Francisco concerning their meaningful participation in the Capital Campaign. Considering the many demands upon his time and the other fund raising responsibilities he bears, the Capital Campaign Committee is very grateful for his willingness to be involved.