First Things
Rev. Rick Hoyt
November, 2011

Wednesday, November 16, First Church will host the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Caroline Severance Manor. From noon to 2 PM there will be speeches. Someone will put a shovel into the ground. Photos will be snapped. Several dozen special guests are invited. Two descendents of Caroline Severance will attend.

You are also invited and I hope that many members of First Church will help celebrate this achievement. Caroline Severance Manor was conceived several years ago. Originally we raised money to purchase two lots beside the church for a parking lot. But then, someone suggested that we build our parking underground, and create new housing for the neighborhood above ground. We sought the help of a housing developer and eventually found Mercy Housing.

When finished, Caroline Severance Manor will provide 85 affordable homes for our neighbors, a childcare center with a YMCA-operated preschool (available for church use on evenings and weekends), resident parking from Francis Avenue and 40 parking spaces for the church accessed from 8th Street.

Completion is expected in the summer of 2013. But this month, First Church will receive a one-time payment from Mercy Housing for the use of our land. We will use that money to make some improvements to the church building (a new sump pump!), balance our budget for a few years as we continue to grow the church, and invest in an endowment that will generate interest income.

For many decades church members will take pride in the Caroline Severance Manor. It is a beautiful gift that your vision, hard work and patience created for our neighborhood and for ourselves. Congratulations.