Project Progress

In this page, we would like to outline in reverse chronological order regarding the development of this renovation since 2022. We have been learning to trust the Lord in every step of this renovation process. 

2025

In February 2025 we finally received official approval from the city for both the change of use of the property, as well as for the proposed renovation.

 

At this point, we realized that the architect that helped us get this approval would not be able to help us carry the project further in a good way. By the Lord gracious provision, we found an architect who is not only experienced in overseeing construction project but also have expertise in Renewable Energy.  With the assistance of this more experienced architect, we are receiving the guidance that we need throughout the subsequent phases of this project.  We have now almost completed Phase 5 (detail planning) and begun Phase 6 (contractor bidding process).

 

After receiving official approval for renovation, the clearing-out work continued throughout the year, and we were able to remove all the walls and structures that were no longer needed.  However, the Building Department also required that the ceiling height of the dining hall has to meet the current standards of 2.4 meters, and with all the layers needed for fire protection, sound insulation and structural support, we realized the need to dig deeper into the ground and strengthen the foundation and pillars in a major way.  Therefore, it is necessary for the final structural engineering calculations to be finalized before the major renovation work can start. We hope to receive the approval for these calculations by January 2026.

2024

After 2 years of working with the Building Department, the final documents for the approval of the permits were submitted in December 2024.  The project was delayed for 2 years mainly due to the extraordinary requirements imposed upon by the Building Department to our architects:

  1. To research and redraw the plan from the original building which was not readily available at the time.
  2. To prepare a set of plans which outline what was approved by the city for past renovations in this building and what was being modified in the past decades, since the previous owners didn’t fully follow the approved plans.
  3. Finally, the plans that show our current renovation plans.

Effectively, our architects had no choice but to prepare 2 extra sets of plans in addition to the plans we needed to apply for the permits.  Furthermore, new fire protection requirements also must be incorporated in our design.

During this year, the clearing out work began for all the things that didn’t require the Building Department’s approval.

2023

Toward the end of 2022, we were having a difficult time finding any architect who was willing to take on a project that involved a 120 years old building and experienced many rejections.  Through much and persistence prayers in the Body, the Lord answered such prayers by releasing an architectural firm which was willing to work with us to prepare all the necessary drawings so we could apply for the change of use (from a restaurant to an assembly place for religious purposes) and building permits for the renovation work.

 

In this year, a group of brothers from USA came to help us identify the non-load bearing walls and by removing these walls to make the basement into one open area as a multipurpose room for children meeting, dining room and student meeting room.  In this way, the basement level of this meeting hall could become much more versatile and useful than the original layout with a number of odd shaped small rooms.

2022

Since 2003, the church has been renting facilities for its use and for blending with other localities. In 2022, by the Lord's gracious provision, we were able to locate a suitable meeting hall for the church uses.  We thank the Lord for His rich supply through His Body; the building was eventually purchased by cash.