THE LITTLE FIREHOUSE THAT
COULD
By Suzanne Adams.
Like the Little Engine in the children's story, our firehouse is an example
of positive thinking. Its original construction, partially from materials
scavenged by the early residents from debris from a Boulder windstorm, set a
precedent.
When the HOA first considered raising funds for the firehouse, some felt
that we should pick the cheapest plan, that we would be lucky to get $15,000
in contributions. But the vote was unanimous to go for the more extensive
remodel, which would better meet our long-term needs. The response from the
community has justified that decision.
We have received:
·
Contributions in amounts up to and including
$100
·
Gifts ranging from $101 to $499
·
Donations from $500 to $1000
(this includes nine families giving at the
$1000 level)
Specific thanks to individual donors will be made subsequently. These
tax-exempt donations, plus the funds pledged by the Auxiliary and the HOA
treasury, bring us up to our original cost projection of $45,000 for the
remodel.
However, in a scenario which may be familiar to people who have undertaken
remodeling projects, the final construction cost exceeds our architect's
estimate. The reasons? Building materials have become more costly, due to
the boom in construction this year. And stipulations by Boulder County,
which include the requirement that the firehouse have two gender-specific
bathrooms, have also added to the cost.
Bottom line: we need an additional $12,000. One can rage against this, and
I DO, I DO, but there it is. Although we never pledged to undertake the
entire cost of remodeling the meeting room, the fact remains that if we, the
HOA, hopefully aided by the Auxiliary, do not undertake this goal, no one
else will do it for us. And that's where our Little Firehouse That Could,
like the Little Engine, comes into play. The fundraising committee too,
thinks we can! And we have the offer of an interest-free loan to cover the
cost increase temporarily.
It's not easy to ask people for money. Pine Brook's response has made it
easier. The fundraising committee thanks you, from the heart. Keep it up.
WE THINK WE CAN! WE THINK WE CAN!
(If you have not yet contributed, or if you feel that you could
increase your donation, please drop an envelope in the HOA box at the
marquee, corner of Linden and S. Cedar Brook, or mail one to us at 1907
Linden Drive. Thank you!)
WHY DO WE NEED THIS
REMODEL?
A Brief Review from the
Committee:
1. The Water District currently, and the Fire District Office until
recently, have been housed in individual Pine Brook homes. We've outgrown
that arrangement. When a fire district office was sectioned off from the
meeting room last year, the agreement was that the space (needed for many
activities) would be returned to the meeting room when new offices were
built.
2. The existing
stairs, deck, and platform inside the meeting room are dangerous and pose
a liability to the community. People have been hurt on the stairs and
platform--fortunately, none seriously so far.
3. The improved
firehouse will be beneficial to the community in several ways. To have
such a venue increases property values. Already, you can see the
improvement to the parking lot area, which used to look like a strip mine
operation. The bird-drilled hose tower, the shabby and dangerous stairs
and deck railing, don't reflect Pine Brook values. In an age which
increasingly reinforces isolation and alienation, Pine Brook can offer a
sense of community and a place where "community" can happen.
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