Capital Improvements Book

Capital Campaign

Securing Our Future

St. Thomas Episcopal Parish 5692 North Kendall Dr., Coral Gables, FL 33156 www.stepsmia.org

Contents

2 Why

At a Glance

Master Plan

4

6

Why

Why are we launching the Securing Our Future

capital campaign?

Securing Our Future is a multi-level $10 million campaign

with goals that address the present and the future of St.

Thomas: first, securing and enhancing the St. Thomas campus

now; and second, securing the future of St. Thomas by elimi-

nating the debt from previous projects and by building the

endowment. Securing Our Future is the final step in the

25-year plan to build the best buildings for the campus, to pro-

vide landscaping and security that match the quality and

beauty of the buildings, and to respond to the financial needs

of the future.

A Glance to the Past:

A Covenant with the Community

In the summer of 2009, several years after the acquisition of

the “Larson property,” St. Thomas Episcopal Parish entered

into a covenant with the City of Coral Gables and the neigh-

bors on Banyan Drive immediately to the south of our campus.

This agreement, which spells out how and when our property

may be used, was reached after many hours of negotiation

with the city, the neighbors, and their lawyers.

The process of re-zoning the Larson property from single resi-

dence dwelling to religious/institutional use so that it could

Walls: A 6-foot high masonry wall on the east side and a

6-foot high wall on the south side of the property must

be completed before we can use the field.

Landscaping: The walls must be landscaped, with plant

selection reviewed by the neighbors.

Structures: No permanent structure can be on the new

playing field, including bleachers.

Buffer: A 10-foot buffer of plants and grass along the

east side wall and landscaping along the south wall as

indicated in the plan must be provided.

Parking: Parking will never be allowed on the new

playfield. The old playing field is grandfathered in as an

“overflow” parking lot. We can never park along

Banyan Drive. Parking on the swale is prohibited with-

out a special permit.

Hours of Use: The new playfield hours are Monday – Sat-

urday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to

4:00 p.m.

become the new playfield was begun in 2006. The long, ardu-

ous process of appealing before the City Commission led us to

a covenant with our neighbors and with the City of Coral

Gables. The following items, related to the Securing Our

Future capital campaign, are regulated by the agreement:

2

Our Vision Today…

A Win/Win for Everyone!

The walls required in the covenant became the springboard

for a vision. Why have walls and beautiful landscaping

around only the new playing field? Why not enclose the entire

campus – both for safety and for beauty – with landscaped

fencing that continues from the walls? Why not add interior

walks and paths and shade and gardens that can be educa-

tional as well as lovely?

And so the vision grew. Now in 2010, the Securing Our Future

campaign is designed to tie up important pieces of the present

and future needs of St. Thomas. Our new buildings are beauti-

ful, functional, and wonderfully reflective of the spiritual and

academic values of St. Thomas Parish. Our vision today is for

all of the grounds to match the quality of the structures, and

for the campus to be fully secured by a wall and fence enclo-

sure, attractively banked with tropical trees and shrubs.

As we secure, develop, and landscape the campus, we also

need to look at the future security of St. Thomas in financial

terms. Continuing to reduce the debt from previous building

projects will eliminate the debt, providing funds needed for

salaries and programs. That is another significant part of the

vision. New and enhanced programs requiring materials,

instructors, and curriculum will be possible for both school

and church when the debt is retired.

Finally, growing the St. Thomas Endowment will secure the

financial stability and assure the sustainability of St. Thomas

in the years to come.

The pledges made to the campaign will secure the future of St.

Thomas on so many levels, as well as providing immediately

for the beautification and security of the property and for an

enhanced educational and spiritual experience for all chil-

dren and adults who are part of the St. Thomas family.

3

Fences and walls for campus security - Think of a

more secure, protected campus enclosed by attractively land-

scaped fences and walls, entered through a guard gate. Think

of pleasant walking and access paths for children and their

parents, away from the traffic flow.

New playing field providing more physical activ-

ity - Think about children at St. Thomas whose exercise

habits today can help secure their future health. Imagine the

benefits of a new playing field reached by a brisk walk from

the main buildings, offering more sports and play activities –

plus the addition of a shade structure off the Old Rectory with

water fountains and restroom access.

Creation and enhancement of environmental

learning areas - In our growing awareness of the need to

take care of our natural resources, think about our campus

including wetlands, a native hammock, a nature walk with

benches and trees, planting beds, and a butterfly garden.

Additional parking spaces - Think of securing peace of

mind when you know that you can drive into St. Thomas and

find parking space.

Beautification of the inner courtyard area - In the

tradition of Anglican churches and schools, our courtyard is a

cloister of spirituality and learning. Imagine that area with

the landscaping that would reflect those values.

Shaded and resurfaced lunch and picnic area - magine an upgraded, covered area for school lunches during

the week and a picnic area for church, scouts, and sports

teams on weekends.

Refurbishing the sacristy - The heart of the worship

preparation needs maintenance.

Retiring the debt - Once our debt from the recent build-

ing projects is fully retired, think of what those dollars would

mean in programming, salaries, and educational enhance-

ment of all types.

The St. Thomas Endowment - The final piece of this

campaign is to increase the endowment. Think of securing

the future by the institutional sustainability that a healthy

endowment provides. Think of the ways we could use divi-

dends from the endowment for the needs and visions of St.

Thomas.

At a Glance

4

The Capital Campaign Moves Outside!

Fiscal Responsibility in the Capital Campaign

Continuing with the plan of fiscal responsibility instituted in

the last campaign, we will divide the campaign income

between the security and enhancement of the campus and the

debt reduction. In addition, we will add a component for the

Endowment to assure the future stability of our institution.

Who will draw the benefits of this project?

Everyone!St. Thomas Parish School Students will daily enjoy

the new playing field (which will never be used for parking),

the outdoor nature paths and environmental learning areas,

and shaded lunch and playground areas.

Sunday School Children and Youth Group Mem-

bers will use and enjoy those same areas on weekends.

All Drivers will appreciate increased and realigned park-

ing spaces.

All Members of the Church and School will benefit

from the increased campus security of the wall/fence enclo-

sure, the landscaped beautification of the property, and the

additional programs and projects that the elimination of the

debt will provide.

and now, a look at our Master Plan . . .

St. Thomas Episcopal Parish is about to take its FINAL

STEP in the completion of this dream and vision for the

property of St. Thomas. Every person in the church and

school community of St. Thomas is invited to become

part of the final step of Securing Our Future.

5

St. Thomas Episcopal Parish

Securing Our Future Capital Campaign

St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School - 5692 North Kendall Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33156 - 305.665.4851 - www.stepsmia.orgSt. Thomas Episcopal Church - 5690 North Kendall Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33156 - 305.661.3436 - www.stthomasep.org

Prepared by CURTIS + ROGERS DESIGN STUDIO, INC.

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH - SECURING OUR FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGNC U R T I S + R O G E R S D E S I G N S T U D I O , I N C .

M a s t e r P l a n - K e y

Kendall Drive

Banyan Drive

Red

Roa

d1

2

45

6

7

89

1011

12

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KEY1. New Perimeter Fence 2. New Entry Gates & Guard House3. New Perimeter Walls4. New Sports Field5. Parking Lot Improvements & Walkway6. New Field Amenities7. Nature Walk8. Enhanced Butterfl y Garden

9. Student Learning Gardens10. Playground Shade Structures11. Lunch Area Improvements12. Wetland Study Area13. New Fencing Along Red Road & Kendall Drive 14. Corner Entry Landscape Enhancements15. Stone Sign Restoration16. Inner Courtyard Enhancements

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3

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New aluminium fence and stone faced columns along the perimeter of Kendall Drive. New landscaping along the fenceline.

N e w P e r i m e t e r F e n c e1


New custom gates and signage for the primary entrance to the parking area, and a new stone veneer guard house.

N e w E n t r y G a t e s A n d G u a r d H o u s e2


The new perimeter wall on the east will be a solid masonry wall with columns and caps and a stucco fi nish. The perimeter wall at the south will be a concrete panel wall and columns with a decorative stone texture fi nish and caps that match the east wall. There will be shrubs and trees along the entire face of the east and south sides of the new fi eld, and vines and trees along the rest of the south side.

N e w P e r i m e t e r Wa l l s

East

South

3


The construction of a new grass playfi eld to the east of the Old Rectory.

N e w S p o r t s F i e l d4


The parking will have an additional fi ve regular spaces and one more Handi-cap space, and will be brought up to code, so that all spaces are the correct size. The old playing fi eld will allow for an additional 72 overfl ow spaces. The construction of a new walkway to allow for a safe pedestrian connection between the re-confi gured parking area to the school, church and playfi elds. The addition of more canopy trees in the parking area to provide more shade for the walkway and for cars.

P a r k i n g L o t I m p r o v e m e n t s5


N e w F i e l d A m e n i t i e s6

Additional amenities to the Old Rectory building to provide shade, a drinking fountain, and restrooms for the users of the new playing fi eld.

The existing porch will be extended out with a new shade structure. • Walkways will be added to connect the shade area to the existing walkways. • The existing restroom in the Old Rectory will be expanded and divided to • create two restrooms. A new drinking fountain will be added under the shade structure.•


N a t u r e Wa l k7

The creation of an alternative walkway from the School/Church to the new play fi eld. This paved walkway would meander along the south property line. The plantings along this path would all be native plants to educate the students about Florida plants. Sections of the walk can be planted incremen-tally, creating many naming opportunities, through the donations of plants, trees, and benches.


E n h a n c e d B u t t e r f l y G a r d e n8

Supplementation of the Butterfl y attracting plants that currently make up the Butterfl y Garden.


S t u d e n t L e a r n i n g G a r d e n s9

The creation of planting beds for students to grow vegetables, herbs and fl owers to enhance their Science Curriculum.


P l a y g r o u n d S h a d e S t r u c t u r e s1 0

The addition of Shade Sails over the playground.


L u n c h A r e a I m p r o v e m e n t s1 1

The addition of Shade Sails over the lunch area and the installation of pavers to replace the existing mulch.


We t l a n d S t u d y A r e a1 2

Supplemented plantings in the area to the west of the school where there are wetland plants and trees, to complement the Science curriculum.

Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress) Tripsacum fl oridana (Dwarf Fakahatchee)

Hymenocallis littoralis (Spider Lily) Peperomia obtusifolia (Florida Peperomia)


N e w F e n c i n g A l o n g R e d R o a d A n d K e n d a l l D r i v e

South

North

1 3

New aluminium fence and stone faced columns along the Kendall Drive Entry for the Church and along the perimeter of Red Road connecting to the new wall at Banyan Drive.


C o r n e r E n t r y L a n d s c a p e E n h a n c e m e n t s14

New landscaping at the church entry circle and corner of the property.


S t o n e S i g n R e s t o r a t i o n15

Improvements to the existing Entry sign to make it more visible from the street. This may include the addition of a base, the sanding of the stone, painting of the letters, planting, and lighting.


Improvements to the planting and drainage of the interior courtyard. These enhancements may include replacing the concrete paving with stone pavers (donor bricks), enhancing the plantings, and fi xing the drainage problems. These improvements would create an enhanced environment for outdoor learning and community gathering.

I n n e r C o u r t y a r d E n h a n c e m e n t s16

Capital Improvements Book

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