Our Needs

Sanctuary & Sanctuary Building

Flooring: The Sanctuary’s red carpeting was installed in 1977! It is so worn and threadbare that we’ve used a red Sharpie for years to color padding showing through. This is not a well-cared-for look and it doesn't reflect the reverence we want for this holy space. Several other areas in the building, including the chancel, also have old, worn flooring and carpeting that needs to be replaced.

Repainting: 1977 was also the last time our Sanctuary was painted. The walls and ceilings now look drab with faded, cracked, and chipped paint, along with many areas that have water damage.

Organ: Our worship services are always magnificently enriched by our pipe organ’s music. Unfortunately, this complicated instrument has sticking keys that need delicate repair before there is any further deterioration to the instrument.

Stained Glass: The Sanctuary’s spectacular stained-glass windows are protected from the intense Florida sun, storms, and other elements with Lucite coverings. These have served their purpose but have become cracked and warped over time. They now leak air and no longer properly protect the windows, which is not good for our beautiful stained glass.
Additionally, our 2016 lobby addition plans called for stained-glass for the upper windows which was never finished.

Hurricane Shutters: As a matter of Florida life, and especially as hurricanes seem to be getting stronger, we need to maintain our storm protection devices. The Sanctuary and church office hurricane shutters are over 40 years old. They have protected our facilities many times over the years, but now they are worn, outdated, and unsightly on our beautiful building.

Fellowship Hall & Kitchen:

Our Fellowship Hall is beautiful and we are proud of its Register of Historic Places status. We hold many events here such as all-church fellowship, Vacation Bible School, Step-Above Rummage Sale, and special events. While it is a great room to gather, its kitchen is in dire need of improvement.

The Fellowship Hall's old carpeting is stained and has a musty smell that makes this space not as inviting as it should be.
The kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring are old, cracked, and difficult to clean. We are not able to keep them as hygienic as they should be for a commercial kitchen.
The room’s appliances are also problematic - they do not meet current codes and are old and outdated. Most are designed for residential, not commercial use, and our two stove-tops and ovens are not sufficient for our needs.

First Presbyterian's magnificent stained glass and soaring ceiling create a beautiful, reverential worship space that raises our souls to God in glory.

Priority Needs

Pest Control: Termites are a scourge, and our Sanctuary, fellowship hall, and education building are infested. This can compromise the structures by damaging their wood components, which is especially dangerous for weight-bearing floors and beams. We have spot-treated, but we must rid our buildings of these pests.

Roofs: Across our facilities, there are signs of roof leaks and water intrusion. These leaks are damaging, can be worse than what is visible, and can lead to an expansion of the original issue. We don’t yet know the scope of the problems without a full inspection of the roofs and facia.

HVAC: All year long our facilities need to provide a comfortable and healthy atmosphere for our members, visitors, and staff. However, our HVAC systems are past their life expectancy and no longer work properly to keep our facilities functioning.

We can no longer depend on having a comfortable atmosphere in our Sanctuary because the HVAC system cannot cool it sufficiently or consistently anymore. This also makes the systems very inefficient and costly to operate.
The loss of humidity control in the Sanctuary is a problem as humidity will cause damage to the interior, furnishings, and organ. We currently have a box fan running constantly to prevent humidity damage to the organ pipes.
Of major concern is the inability of the education building’s HVAC to control humidity. This has caused mold to grow in the ductwork that is then blown throughout the building, making it a sick building. We run fans and humidifiers, but the resulting stale air causes the building to smell musty.

Interior

Education Building

Elevator: The elevator is so important in making our facilities easily accessible for people of all abilities to participate in our services and activities. However, it does not meet regulation code because it is missing a safety lock required by the state of Florida. This is dangerous for everyone who uses it because it could cause injury by being able to move before the doors close.

Restrooms: Currently, the restroom fixtures and furnishings are outdated and worn, the tiles are water-damaged, and there is exposed piping. While we are not able to make these restrooms truly handicapped accessible, they should be made easier to use for those with mobility issues.

Repainting: The education building was last painted in 2017 and all the use over the years has left the paint worn and faded. Damage from condensation on the windowsills, especially, needs to be repaired and refreshed with new paint too.

Today, our Education Building is used for the nursery, Sunday School classes, and many staff offices.

Exterior

Exterior Paint: The exterior of our buildings were last painted in 2017 and the salty ocean air and hot Florida sun have done their work to deteriorate their painted stucco. The old paint has dulled the visual impact of the building’s beautiful entrance, tall spire, and large campus as well as now poorly protecting them from further deterioration.

Landscaping: The beauty of our building and campus is diminished by our landscaping. In particular, the plants in our circle are not nourished enough to thrive because they do not have deep enough soil. The dead palm trees along our entrance lane also need to be taken care of.

Parking Lots: Parking lots often offer the first impression of a facility to visitors and those passing by. Ours are not in very poor condition, but their cracks and faded striping need some attention to be at their best.

Maintenance Golf Cart: Our maintenance golf cart is almost 40 years old and has been used extensively during that time. This worn machine breaks down frequently and repair parts are difficult to find and, if available, expensive. It is not wise to spend our money or time to maintain this aging vehicle.

It has been decades since some of our facilities have received attention. They are well used and are now worn, dulled, and have been damaged over time.