RELOCATION PLAN--Mr. Tkach discusses
plans to vacate buildings before move.
[Photos by Ron Grove and Thomas C. Hanson
By Thomas C. Hanson
Pastor General Joseph Tkach discussed a preliminary relocation schedule at an employee meeting in the Ambassador Auditorium Aug. 4.
Mr. Tkach gave dates that buildings need to be vacated before escrow closes on the headquarters property, estimated to be between the summer and fall of 2000. Plans are to lease a new headquarters facility within a 40-mile radius of Pasadena.
According to Dale Trow, facilities director, the relocation schedule will help ensure that the headquarters facility is vacated in an orderly manner, and in a way that meets contractual obligations with the buyer and maximizes income from the sale of surplus building contents.
Legacy Partners, the prospective purchaser of the property, has submitted a preliminary development plan to the City of Pasadena. Legacy is further developing the plan and choosing sub-developers to make their plans. Escrow is scheduled to close 30 days after the City of Pasadena approves the final plan.
Mr. Tkach emphasized the tentative nature of the relocation schedule because the close of escrow can only be estimated.
One of the main tasks is removing corporately owned items from buildings, Mr. Tkach said. Buildings were placed in categories to mark the time when they needed to be readied.
Some buildings need to be ready immediately to be cleared out. They include the former library and library annex, the former publishing building, transportation and Imperial Schools.
Other buildings need to be ready by mid-February. They include the Science and Fine Arts buildings, Grove Terrace (former men's dormitory), Ambassador gymnasium and natatorium and the Fellowship Hall (former Student Center).
In late spring or early summer campus residences must be vacated, and corporate property must be removed from the Legal Office, PTM and the Hall of Administration.
Vance Gilless and Pete Arguien of Facilities are working with Ron Urwiller to schedule team days, when all available Facilities personnel work to clear a building.
To gain the highest value for building contents in a way most fair to all, the church will use a professional auctioneering firm to conduct at least three public auctions. They are scheduled for October, the spring, and late spring or early summer as buildings are vacated.
Curtis May, senior pastor, met with ministry leaders July 31 and
noted enthusiasm for relocation from the Ambassador Auditorium to another location in Pasadena.
Mr. May said: "They expressed a strong desire to move out into the community and establish congregations as soon as possible. One congregation that will be re-established is the Los Angeles congregation. Members from that area are joyfully anticipating the move."
A Relocation Committee began meeting in early April. The committee is supervised by Bernie Schnippert, church treasurer, with Mr. Trow as chairman.Committee members are Nancy Akers, Charles Albrecht, Randal Dick, Mike Feazell, Ruthie Fuller, Ron Kelly, Deb Nickel, Mat Morgan, Amy Pieper, Cheryl Simpson, Ron Urwiller and Robert Meade, all church employees in Pasadena.
The Relocation Committee works with the Planning, Reengineering and Organizing Committee (PRO), also supervised by Dr. Schnippert. Ron Kelly is chairman.
The PRO Committee develops recommendations for the WCG board on the types of services headquarters will provide in the future, and the tools and personnel by which those services will be accomplished.
According to Mr. Trow, the Relocation Committee considers PRO conclusions and makes recommendations to the board on the future location and look of headquarters.
The church has retained William Boyd, senior vice president of the Grubb & Ellis Office Services group, to help locate an appropriate facility to lease.
The Relocation Committee focuses on creating workspaces based on specific job functions in order to maximize space usage and employee efficiency, and keep the lease rate to a minimum, Mr. Trow said.
"Our current facility served us well over these many years," Mr. Trow said, "but now it's time to move to a more cost-effective facility, which better matches our current mission"
RELOCATION PLAN--Mr. Tkach discusses
plans to vacate buildings before move.
[Photos by Ron Grove and Thomas C. Hanson
EMPLOYEE MEETING--Mr. Tkach
addresses employees Aug. 4.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999