THE FUTURE IS NOW

FOR AN EXCITING NEW SPACE TO GATHER, LEARN AND CELEBRATE!

Renovation of the Meerkerk House

In early 2021, we began to dream. The old 1932 cottage that housed our business offices was showing its age, and we were spending more and more money on repairs. What to do?

 The Meerkerk House, built in 1962, featured a large open area on the entire downstairs level. Would it be feasible to convert this space into offices, and how could we possibly afford it? Board president Lee Williamson, an architect by profession, began sketching a spacious office area for the garden staff, a gathering space for volunteers to have lunch- complete with a kitchen and an ADA-accessible restroom- and three additional offices for administrative staff.

This was set to be the largest capital project we had ever undertaken at Meerkerk. Board member Pat Sasson got busy planning the annual galas for the next two years to raise funds for the project. Board member Re McClung began consulting with construction companies to estimate the costs. And as they say, we were off to the races!

We hired Stig Carlson Architecture for the final designs and Eagle Building Company as our builder. Everything was coming together. There were many hurdles in obtaining permits, but by February 2024, we had our building permit. With signed contracts and money in the bank, we broke ground in March 2024. This was truly an exciting time. Board member Maria Cablao served as our construction manager, coordinating with the Eagle Team.

By the first week of December, the project was finished, and we were ready to start moving in. That has also taken us a while. Some parts of the house are now new and beautiful, while other areas will still need renovation as we move forward. But our staff are finally working in a winter-warm, summer-cool area with good lighting.

A couple of weeks ago, we hosted our first event in the renovated Meerkerk House, welcoming our Cornerstone Donors who believed in the project and generously contributed to making it a reality. We are ever so grateful to each of them. We have big plans yet to execute- we need to replace the upstairs compromised windows, as well as the old and worn-out furnishings. Michelle Dirkse Design is generously donating time and staff to assist us with these next steps. Once we have a completed plan, we will seek donors willing to purchase a sofa, chair, or perhaps an end table!

We have big plans for the House in 2026 – perhaps a wedding or reception, or an event for a community organization. We will keep you updated on our progress!

 In the meantime, if you have questions, email us at gardeninfo@meerkerkgardens.org.