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On May 1st, 2008, MCCLA will be in our new home:
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Most Current "Special Announcement"
February 22, 2008 (from this week's Newsletter)
In May we will be moving from West Hollywood to Los Feliz. I am delighted to let you know that on Tuesday 26 February we will own the building located at 4953 Franklin Avenue. We will spend the next couple of months doing some renovations and we will begin worshipping there in May. Stay tuned for more details. However, one thing that I do know is that change, for some does not come easy and is often stressful. I am already praying for God’s protection over us as we encounter the reactions to change and stress!! I would also invite you to pray also and to know that the transition will be much easier if we not only pray but work on developing our relationships with others around us, so that we can support one another in this move...
...I would like to thank my colleagues on staff as well as the Board of Directors and members/friends of MCCLA. As you might know making a purchase of a building is not an easy task and to purchase a new building for our church has had its challenges as well. We had 25 days to complete due diligence and proceed to purchase and I have spend nearly every day of this past month working with our realtor, land use lawyer, architect and city officials to ensure that the risks on our purchase are at an absolute minimum....
NEW: Getting to the new MCCLA building in Los Feliz (public transportation)
Church Family, here are some routes which will individuals off 1 block east of Franklin and Edgemont, which Reverend Alex Escoto (MCCLA's Minister of Congregational Care and Pastor of ICM, our Spanish-speaking congregation) obtained from www.metro.net. Likewise, individuals can also call 1-800-COMMUTE.
The primary transportation is provided by the Hollywood DASH which costs .25 cents and picks up along Vermont Ave, dropping off at Franklin and Edgemont, 1 block east of Franklin and Kenmore. There are no actual buses that drop off on Franklin and Kenmore but plenty of buses that drop off within 1/4 or 1/3 mile walking distance.
The Metro Rail Red line Station which drops off at Vermont/Sunset Station or Vermont/Santa Monica Station, one can transfer to the Hollywood Dash which drops off at Franklin and Edgemont. The Metro Rail Red Line starts at Union Station/Downtown.
#1
Ride Metro Rail Red Line ( NORTH HOLLYWOOD STATION) heading west
To: VERMONT SUNSET STATION or VERMONT SANTA MONICA STATION
Pay $1.25, Monthly Pass: $62.00, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ride Hollywood Dash (HOLLYWOOD DASH) heading north
From: VERMONT AV/SUNSET BLVD(NE corner)
To: FRANKLIN AV/EDGEMONT ST(NE corner)
Pay $0.25, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ending at 4953 FRANKLIN AV
Total cash fare = $1.50; total trip time about 40 minutes.
#2
Starting at SUNSET BLVD/VERMONT AV or Santa Monica/Vermont
Ride HOLLYWOOD DASH (HOLLYWOOD DASH) heading north
From: VERMONT AV/SUNSET BLVD or Vermont and Santa Monica (NE corner)
To: FRANKLIN AV/EDGEMONT ST(NE corner)
Pay $0.25, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ending at 4953 FRANKLIN AV
Total cash fare = $0.25; trip time about 40 minutes.
#3
Starting at 8714 SANTA MONICA BLVD
Taking the #4 and transferring to the Hollwyood Dash at Santa Monica & Edgemont to Franklin & Edgemont.
Ride Metro Bus 4( DOWNTOWN LA - HILL-VENICE) heading east
From: SANTA MONICA BL/WESTBOURNE DR(SW corner)
To: SANTA MONICA BLVD/EDGEMONT ST(SE corner)
Pay $1.25, Monthly Pass: $62.00, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ride Hollywood Dash (HOLLYWOOD DASH) heading east
From: SANTA MONICA BLVD/EDGEMONT ST(SE corner)
To: FRANKLIN AV/EDGEMONT ST(NE corner)
Pay $0.25, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ending at 4953 FRANKLIN AV
Total cash fare = $1.50; Trip time is about 45 minutes.
#4
From Downtown at UNION STATION taking the bus and the rail system:
Take the Rapid #704 to Santa Monica & Vermont and transfer to the Hollywood Dash to Franklin & Edgemont..
Ride Metro Rapid 704( SANTA MONICA) heading west
From: CESAR E CHAVEZ AV/VIGNES ST(NW corner)
To: SANTA MONICA BL/VERMONT AV(NW corner)
Pay $1.25, Monthly Pass: $62.00, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ride Hollywood Dash (HOLLYWOOD DASH) heading north
From: VERMONT AV/SANTA MONICA BLVD(NE corner)
To: FRANKLIN AV/EDGEMONT ST(NE corner)
Pay $0.25, (EZ Pass accepted)
Ending at 4953 FRANKLIN AV
Total cash fare = $1.50; Trip time is about 45 minutes.
Archive Announcements concerning MCCLA's new building:
February 3, 2008, after Sunday's Extraordinary Congregation Meeting
Dear Friends
What wonderful worship we had today. The 9am, 11am and 1.30pm services were all inspirational and I am convinced that lives were touched today by the presence of the Spirit that surrounded or day.
At 1pm we gathered for our Special Congregational Meeting and we voted on the following motion moved by the Board of Directors:
Move to approve the purchase of 4953 Franklin Avenue., Los Feliz, CA as the new home of MCCLA and empower the Board of Directors to negotiate all proceedings and, if necessary, to withdraw from the purchase should it be determined that it is not in the best interest of MCCLA to conclude the purchase due to items discovered in due diligence.
We had a good meeting and all of the people who spoke raised valuable questions that helped us in our decision making process.
The Board had set a benchmark percentage of a vote in order for us to proceed with the purchase. The benchmark was 70% of votes cast and I am delighted to inform you that more than 80% of votes cast voted in favor of the motion. Therefore we will continue with the due diligence process. If all goes according to plan and there are no problems discovered we should close escrow later this month and move into the building, commencing worship there in early May 2008. You can read more about this on our website under “weekly newsletter” or by clicking this link: http://www.mccla.org/newsletter.html
If you have not already visited the building you can do a quick tour online at our website. Just click this link and scroll down for a virtual tour. http://www.mccla.org/special_announcment_Neil_1-24-08.html
I will keep you informed of new developments as they occur and encourage you to visit the website as well as hear the announcements at worship services in the next few weeks.
Please continue to pray for the Board of Directors and all those involved in leadership as we work through all that it will take to both purchase this building, move to this new location and begin the redevelopment process.
Thank you for being at the Congregational Meeting today and for your votes.
Peace and blessings,
The Reverend Neil G Thomas
Senior Pastor
Cole Dolton, Vice Moderator
Jewel Junior, Clerk
Walter Wilson, Treasurer
Members:
Roger Owens
Keith Meinen
John Kontos
Jim Curtan
Larry Moad
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Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles |
Dear Friends
This past Sunday I announced from the pulpit some exciting news about a possible new building for MCCLA. At that point I was unable to give you more details due to the fact that we had not signed a contract. However, today we have finalized the details of the purchase and we have come to an agreement on the purchase price and escrow details.
Therefore, I am pleased to confirm that following details to you.
The building is located at 4953 Franklin Avenue, Los Feliz on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Kenmore, a few blocks west of Vermont. It is currently occupied by the Los Feliz United Methodist Church who are in the process of relocating to a new building themselves. Here is a picture of the building…..
NEW & IMPROVED VERSION (updated):
Virtual Tour of Proposed New Building
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The building has been used as a place of worship since the early 1900’s and has the following facilities:
Sanctuary that currently seats approximately 120 people complete with stain glass windows, high ceilings and no pillars, fellowship hall, kitchen, and a few rooms on the 2 story building at the rear. On site is also a house and a garage.
By reconfiguring the church buildings we will be able to add more seating and we will be able to create more parking, although parking will always be an issue and never adequate for our modern day living.
The church is on a bus route and is not far from the Metro station at Sunset and Vermont. There are excellent facilities around the area and eateries for those wishing to do breakfast/lunch following worship services.
I have so much more to share with you with regard to the vision for this building and I will do that through a separate medium.
In order to move forward on the purchase of this building we have arranged the following tours and Congregational Meeting.
Building Tours:
Sunday, 27 January (this coming Sunday) from 4pm – 6pm
Saturday, 2 February from 2pm – 5pm
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, 3 February 2008 at 12.30pm
Just a couple of weeks ago I asked our church community to come to prayer and I sincerely hope that you will continue to join me, the Board of Directors and the Building Search Sub Group in prayer as we journey together and discern God’s leading and direction for the next home for MCCLA.
If you have any immediate questions, please do not hesitate to email me and I will respond accordingly. Otherwise, I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday and to seeing you at the Open House this Sunday or next Saturday.
Peace,
The Reverend Neil G Thomas
Senior Pastor and Moderator of the Board of Directors
Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles
4953 Franklin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323-669-3434
323-669-3004 (Fax)
revneil@mccla.org
www.mccla.org