Creative Community Living’s day center/office building property in El Dorado will take on a new look in 2008.
In early January, architect Merrill Gordon will seek bids for improvements on the building at Sixth and Haverhill Road that was first leased by CCL in 1998 and then purchased in 2005. Plans call for an addition on the east, a covered entrance on the south and a vestibule on the west. Except for the office area, the inside of the existing building will undergo extensive changes. Less dramatic changes will occur in the office area.
“When CCL completes the expansion and renovation of the El Dorado office and day center space, staff will be better equipped to meet the needs of the clients served in that location,” said executive director Linda Misasi. “Our day center space there is inadequate both in size and function. After the renovation, clients will have space to relax, space to work on computers, space to participate in arts and crafts activities, and a kitchen and dining area.
“The kitchen is a very open design, which will allow additional clients to be involved in cooking activities,” she said. “Sometimes when we have large-group activities such as birthday parties or chapel, clients have to wait in line to use the restrooms. We are doubling the number of restrooms.”
Individuals also work on community service projects such as folding newsletters for local churches and paid jobs such as shredding paper.
Currently, a large room at the east end of the building is used for storage. That will instead become part of the day center. At the completion of the remodeling project, which is projected to take approximately six months, the day center’s floor space will be doubled. Presently CCL has a limit of seven day-only and 30 residential clients. When all gather in the day center, it is very, very crowded since many are in wheelchairs. The new space is expected to hold as many as 100.
“The office space has also been inadequate for several years,” Linda said. “The conference room seats about 10-12 comfortably, but oftentimes there is a need for space that will hold at least 20. The new conference room will allow for the larger meetings and training activities. Currently, staff training sometimes must occur in day services space, further disrupting client activities.”
Staff members who travel between sites will share a work area. Case managers will have separate offices, allowing for increased privacy and confidentiality when working with clients.
The project goal, Linda said, is to provide staff members with resources needed to continue providing high quality services. That should help CCL achieve its mission of creating an environment where everyone is valued and challenged to reach his or her full potential
“The staff has done so much with so little for so long,” she said. “I can only imagine how much happier the clients and staff will be with the day services program when they have the increased space and equipment included in this project.
“Parents, staff and clients can expect disruption in the daily routine during the construction,” Linda said. “Hopefully, we will be able to make this a fun adventure, but for those who seek structure and routine, the construction may be a bit anxiety producing. We are currently looking for alternate space to use for day services activities a few days a week. In addition, an increased number of community-based activities will likely take place. The offices will remain housed in the building throughout renovation – or at least that’s the plan at this time.”
The project, which will most likely begin in February, will also include a new sprinkler system to meet fire safety requirements; paint and possibly other improvements on the exterior of the building; paved parking spaces, a patio and landscaping.
Next spring, plans are for construction to begin on a 24-foot by 30-foot maintenance building on the southeast corner of the property. Tommy Woznick, project manager for Frontier Refinery in El Dorado, has volunteered to line up a crew of volunteers to do the work on that structure. He previously worked on Habitat for Humanity houses and other projects.
Tommy and his wife, Debbie, realized the need for CCL’s day services space to be upgraded when they brought their daughter for activities.
“Their idea to renovate the building with volunteer labor got me to really look at the building sooner than if Tommy hadn’t offered to work on it,” Linda said. “The whole project is happening a couple of years earlier than I’d envisioned because of his offer. After touring the offices and day services area with the Woznicks, architect Merrill Gordon and board president Sharon Bird, I realized how much staff were doing with so little.”
Later, it was decided Tommy and his crew would be involved in putting up the maintenance building, and a contractor would renovate and expand the main building.
Funding for the remodeling project will be partially by donations. The Woznicks, who live in Wichita, were the first to step up and make a very generous financial contribution. Others interested in making a tax-deductible contribution for this or any other CCL project may send a check to Jane Sandbulte, CCL’s director of public relations and fund-raising, at 1500 E. Eighth, Suite 201, Winfield, KS 67156.
Or if you wish to talk or meet with Linda and/or Jane, please contact them at (620) 221-9431.