Construction Photos -- Fall 2007

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Solar thermal piping installed (pipe carries heat fluid from the panels to a converter which heats the water) Final landscaping gets installed at the main entrance
Greenhouse frame going up Solar thermal panels installation almost complete
Flag poles going up

Construction Photos -- Spring/Summer 2007

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Chefs checking out the new kitchen equipment Jeff Carlin (kitchen consultant), Chef Dargin, Mrs. Stemberg, and Chef Turnbull
Green roof system being set up Green roof system being set up

Kitchen Hood Delivered

North Sidewalk
First Floor Tape & Mud Courtyard Walkways
Courtyard Final Windows Courtyard Concrete Pour
Boiler Piping Auditorium Duct & Walls
Auditorium Covered Final Bricks Being Laid
Inner Courtyard

Construction Photos -- Winter 2006-2007

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Courtyard with Finished Brick Bricking on a cold day in February
Plumbing Installation Bricking around Future Audio
Sign
Completed Concrete Structure Crane Removal
First Ducts Delivered Duct Installation Begins
Installation of Main Air Duct First Interior Studs

Construction Photos -- Fall 2006

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Concrete Structure "Topped Out" (all major structual pours are complete)
The Secod Floor is Set Beginning Block Work
Third Floor Columns Begin View of the Building & Chicago Skyline
Overlooking the framing for the floor of the Women's Area Framing the columns for the Elevator and Central Corridor
Building Final Section of Basement Wall Framing of Men's Daytime and Sleeping Spaces

Overlooking Part of First Floor & Basement from Second Floor

View of Downtown from Second Floor
Setting up Second Floor Form Leveling Second Floor

Preparing Northeast Basement Walls

Framing Columns
Connecting the North and
South Basements
Working the Concrete
Setting Rebar for Concrete Overlooking Basement
from First Floor Deck

Construction Update -- August 2006

The long anticipated construction on PGM's new building began on May 8 and is progressing on schedule to be completed in September 2007.

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Site Work Begins Driving Piles for Foundation
Basement Foundation Earth Retention for Basement
Basement Floor w/ Column Forms
in Place
Forms for the First Floor
Basement wall forms being set into
place (8/21/06)

New Facility Groundbreaking -- November 16, 2005

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After 82 years at its State Street location, ground was broken on November 16, 2005 for the new facility at 14th & Canal Streets. The PGM Choir followed the groundbreaking with a thankful hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
PGM's faithful Board members were a critical part of the groundbreaking event. [L to R: Rev. Michael Allen, Rev. Bob Sheridan, David McCarrell, Larry Roches, Joe Bulicek, Dr. Elwood Chipchase, Dr. A. Ray Charles, Don Anderson] Approximately one hundred people braved cold, windy weather to participate in the historic groundbreaking event.
Prior to the groundbreaking, PGM president David McCarrell addressed the gathering, retracing God's faithfulness in the mission's history and pointing out that the cold weather was a reminder that we all need to get involved in caring for the homeless. Bob Sheridan and David McCarrell visit with Dr. Michael Easley, Moody Bible Institute president.

Mission Relocation Update
January, 2005

After 5½  years of working with the City of Chicago on locating a new site for PGM, God has answered the prayers of thousands of friends of PGM. The City and PGM have agreed on a new location. In the next months PGM News more specific details will follow; however, we wanted you to know that we have established a Building Fund to help accomplish this move. If you feel led by God and would like to help in this project, you can designate your gift to the New Building Fund. God bless.

A Matter of Prayer

A Word from Dave McCarrell
President, Pacific Garden Mission

In the last couple of months the City and Board of Education of Chicago have begun a new push to acquire our property on State Street. Our position on this situation has been to trust God for His direction and His will to be accomplished. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

We know our Landlord is in charge, and we want to trust Him completely and let Him direct our path. The number of persons we serve and the outreach of PGM is larger than at any time in our 125 years of ministry. For this ministry to continue to enlarge to meet the need, we will need more space, and it doesn't seem possible to acquire that space at our present location.

However, this presents a real problem, because we are debt-free here at 646 South State Street. To move to a larger facility would take some 15 to 20 million dollars, perhaps more. There are a lot of unanswered questions, such as:

  • How much is our present property worth?
  • How much will the new facility actually cost?
  • What expenses will be involved in a move to a new location with the required renovations?
  • How can all of this be accomplished without hindering our present ministries?
  • And finally, how much is the City of Chicago willing to help?

At this time we are asking our friends and supporters to pray that God will direct and guide in the decisions that must be made. This is God's ministry, and He has sustained and strengthened it for 125 years. We believe He will continue to guide and direct this ministry if we stay true to the work He has called us to do.