Historical February–March 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Dear fellow residents, The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council offices at 6008 Kingsbury serves as the center for neighborhood meetings and events. SDCC has been renting/using these offices for 1520 years, if not longer, and it shows. Under a commercial lease, the tenant is responsible for the maintenance/improvements of the interior space and systems, but the Council, a nonprofit, has been unable to afford more than minimal maintenance.
In addition, the office layout, without an adequate kitchen (no water supply/drain for the sink) has hampered our neighborhood events which usually involve food; and the lack of offices separated from the meeting area, negatively impact the Council staff and the neighbors meeting here. Several residents, including Maggie Hart-Mahon and Michelle Pike, recently approached the Council about this.
They volunteered to provide leadership & coordination to renovate and improve the SDCC offices, using plans drawn up by residents, architects, several years ago.
In response, the SDCC has committed to provide a substantial part of its limited funds for those items/services that may not be donated and would have to be purchased.
To carry out the renovation, the SDCC is asking for the community’s/your help, with donations of items, materials, and/or time & labor by those of us who have energy, and skills we’ve honed renovating our older homes. Perhaps the concept of a “barn raising” is applicable to renovating a neighborhood center, as its been applied to “Habitat for Humanity” projects? Below is a wish list put together for the project that is going to start in February.
If we all pull together, and everyone can give something, and/or a little time and effort, we can make this work.
Please consider helping out the Community Council, and contact Maggie Hart-Mahon and Michelle Pike, who are leading this effort, to help out. Their contact information is at the end of the Wish List set out below. Thank you! Dan
SDCC Office Renovation Wish List
(NOTE: Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council is a tax exempt not-for-profit, so your inkind contributions are tax deductible!
We will provide the necessary “tax letters.”)
I. Building Supplies 1. 2x4s (In good condition) 2. Drywall (4×8 sheets in good condition) 3. Drywall nails, screws 4. R19 insulation for soundproofing (up to 10 rolls) II. Paint Supplies 1. Paint for sealing plaster, and undercoat paint 2. Paint brushes 3. Rollers 4. Blue painter’s tape 5. Rags, buckets 6. Liquid cleaner (like Mr. Clean, etc.) or T.S.P. III. Appliances 1. Refrigerator (full size, with icemaker, not more than 56 years old) 2. Kitchen Sink (single large bowl at least 8” deep) 3. Faucet for kitchen sink (high neck or removable spout to accommodate large pots) 4. Bathroom vanity (sink, faucet, vanity top) 5. Ventilator fan for bathroom (to vent 8×10 space) 6. Dishwasher (not more than 3 years old) 7. Microwave (full size, not more than 5 years old) 8. Countertop for island floor cabinet (78 feet long) 9. Island cabinet (78 feet long, cabinet storage and drawers) 10. Flooring for kitchen area (12×12 vinyl tile to cover an area approx 3 x 12) 11. Replacement ceiling tiles (to match current ceiling tiles) 12. Floor cabinet for sink 13. Countertop for sink 14. Carpet for 2 offices (want office type carpet, each office approx. 12 x 12) IV. Volunteer workers: Weekends in February and March, 45 hour blocks of time. 1. Demolition party volunteers: Approx 68 people at a time to move all the stuff out of the kitchen area, take up carpet, generally clean out area for #2 and #3 below. 2. Construction party volunteers: Approx 68 people to help construct partition wall between two office spaces, and to create two openings for doorways.
These people will be helpers to construction leaders who will tell you what to do.
As long as you can hammer and nail and use a drill, you’re qualified! 3. Plaster party volunteers: Approx 56 people at a time to plaster holes and cracks and scrape paint and general paint prep work. “Bring your own supplies” if you can, like drop cloths, putty knives, paint scrapers. 4. Painting party volunteers: Approx 56 people at a time to paint. “Bring your own supplies” if you can, like drop cloths, ladders, paint brushes, roller pans. 5. Food/Drink volunteers: Make, and deliver, snacks and drinks for volunteers for one or more of the “parties.” *** Please contact Maggie Hart-Mahon or Michelle Pike: Maggie: 314/615-0178 (office days); mhartmahon@stlouisco.com Michelle: 314/726-4906 (home and office); 314/863-2320 (home eve); mrpike@sbcglobal.net
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source prints 1520 years, 56 years, 78 feet, 45 hourblocks, 68 peopleand 56 peoplewithout range separators; no missing hyphens inferred.
Original source: SD_Times2006_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
