The Dailey Restoration Project

Our 7 member builiding committee began in earnest this year.  We examined metal buildings and finally opted for an earth sheltered, green roof structure designed by FormworksBuilding, Inc in Durango, Colorado. 

https://www.formworksbuilding.com

Our goal is to design a biophilic building that takes advantage of the beauty of our Jefferson County location.  Over this year we studied biophilic  design, edible forests, permeable pavers, permaculture, vermicomposting, the wild yard projects, many kinds of alternative, earth friendly building materials.  Our building design is almost ready for blueprints!

A lot of work was done in 2022! The inside of the house was gutted down to the bricks and the restoration began in earnest:  A new roof and rebuilt addition on the outside and everything new inside.  The house has 3 bathrooms now, 3 bedrooms, a laundry room and a porch sunroom on the upstairs as well as the downstairs sunrooms.  The living area and dining room will soon be ready to house our offices, meetings, classes and anything else we need to do except for Worship which will continue at Independent Fire Hall in Ranson.

In the back of the property the ampitheatre is complete with a stage, storage building and A/V control building which worked beautifully for the Nativity Pageant 2022.

We are hoping to occupy the new facility by May 2023!

#DaileyRestoration

 Little by little we've begun the restoration of the Dailey house.  First we tore down the outbuildings and dug up all the brush.  Then we tested for asbestos and got a clean report.  We called Petti Pest Control to get rid of the fleas, rats and snakes, an essential step because none of us wanted to set foot in there!  Next we called a company that gathered up the junk, hauled it away and stripped out the walls and ceiling. From there we began to prepare for new electric service to the property and even shaped an ampitheatre for the Live Nativity Pageant.  Little by little the land is becoming useful to us.

Next steps involve redoing the roof and replacing all the windows and doors.  It's already looking better.

Next year we hope this will house our church offices and provide during-the-week meeting space for us.

#DaileyRestoration

We finally closed on the land and house on August 27!  The land is beautiful with an amazing view of the Blue Ridge mountains.  

The house is another story.  When our church purchased it, it was overgrown, full of trash and vermin, and a smelly mess in desperate need of TLC after years of neglect.  Initially we thought we'd tear it down.  But underneath the filth, the house is beautiful and well built, just waiting for someone to restore it's original image.   For me, JoAnne, it has become an example of where we all find ourselves at one time or another... and where we stay without Jesus.  Underneath our brokenness, there are the remnants of the original design God created us to be, just waiting the restorative care only Jesus can provide.  There's a long way to go, but Jesus never gives up on us, so we can't give up either!  #DaileyRestoration

  We surpassed our goal , secured financing, and were ready to close on the land when the pandemic hit.  After closing for in-person worship for a month, we reopened for worship at Independent Fire Hall in Ranson where there has been room to social distance around large tables.  We have been able to save additonal funds for the land and anticipate a closing as soon as Gordon Associates completes the redesign of the 7 acres to take into account a future entrance.

   Since our vision is Building for a New Generation we want to take into account such things as solar and wind energy and other green technologies.  Perhaps we can be the first energy star rated church in West Virginia!  

A Christmas Day 2008 photo: We had just closed on the Dailey Farm with an LLC. Kent Tice,  Jack Zaleski, and JoAnne Alexander spent many hours with the Charles Town Planning  Commission to get the 124 acres of the Dailey Farm annexed into the  city.  We had hopes of keeping 20+ acres that could be used for an assisted living facility as well as an expansion of the UMC church next door.  That dream came to an abrupt end with the bankruptcy in 2009 of the LLC with whom we had been working.
But now the developer who manages the property has  agreed to sell us, now Oakland Community Church, 7 acres for a new church!  We hope to close on it in 2021 and work with our neighbors to build the Kingdom! 

Our goal is to raise $105,000 by the end of January 2020 so that we can purchase a 7 acre tract of the Dailey Farm and the house that is on it.