A facelift for the Mono Lake Committee
If you’ve driven past the Mono Lake Committee’s office building/bookstore/information center in Lee Vining recently, you might be curious as to what all the digging is about. The Sheet asked Mono Lake Committee’s Executive Director Geoff McQuilkin what was going on and he was happy to oblige with the following:
“We’re excited about the remodel work taking place out front,” McQuilkin said in an email. “We expect the improvements to make Lee Vining more attractive and our building more welcoming to visitors seeking information about Mono Lake. We’ve essentially had the same asphalt storefront for the 30 years that the Committee has operated from our building—and now it’s really time to freshen things up.
“Features that we are excited about include: building an exterior deck south of the main door, installation of a wheelchair lift for an ADA-accessible front entrance, a small gathering and hang-out area centered around a Mono Lake map in the concrete, a greywater system to water the landscaping, a water bottle filling station, and a shaded picnic area for enjoying lunch or surfing the Internet.”
Check out the following Q&A for more information or read this post on the Mono Lake Committee’s website: http://www.monolake.org/today/
What’s happening in front of the Mono Lake Committee?
We are renovating the outdoor space in front of the Information Center & Bookstore in order to extend the welcoming and educational experience for the public and members inside, outside. This is the first time in our 34-year history that the Committee has renovated the area—most of what was out there has been there since the 70s.
What is the purpose of the remodel?
The Committee’s goal is to draw more visitors to the Mono Lake Committee to learn about and support Mono Lake and to create a more inviting and fun experience for visitors and members. The Committee takes its role of housing the Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce very seriously and we are excited to be able to provide a more inviting outdoor area to compliment the visitor information provided inside.
Will the Committee Information Center & Bookstore stay open during construction?
We will remain open throughout the construction. There is a chain-link fence around the construction site for public and construction crew safety. Visitors will have to follow signs to enter via the back of the building. We are directing people to walk to Third Street, take a left onto C Street, and look for signs to the back door of our main building. There is absolutely no parking in the back, all visitors must park in front. There is wheelchair access in the back.
When will construction be complete?
The remodel is expected to be complete in June 2012.
Who is doing the construction work?
Ed and Roy of Escoto Construction & Design out of June Lake are the general contractors (they also helped with the indoor store remodel in the winter of 1992-1993). It is important to the Committee to support local folks whenever we can, and the subcontractors are local as well.
How can the Committee afford this major investment?
Primarily due to a significant bequest from longtime Committee member Grace deLaet who passed away in 2008 without children and left a substantial portion of her life savings to the Committee. Grace was passionate about getting everyone excited about Mono Lake, and since the remodel is designed to inspire future generations, it’s a perfect fit. Donations from Mono Lake Committee members were also critical to raising the funds needed to meet the budget. Planning has been in the works for over 3 years—between design, fundraising, and planning.
Who should I talk to if I have more questions?
Bartshé Miller, Education Director is the lead staff person on the project. Check the Mono-logue for construction progress photos and updates.
