Update Re: Our Move
If you were at the banquet, or if you received our Christmas newsletter, you know about our need to move from our present location. We’ve been looking since October – and there are certainly a lot of properties for lease and for sale out there!
“So what’s taking so long?” you might ask.
If it was any building in any location – well – that would be easy. There is so much “out there”. But how many locations would put Another Way Pregnancy Center in the BEST path for seeing the MOST (numbers of) abortion vulnerable women and the people who “counsel” (influence, push or love) them?
I’ve shared with many of you how we came to the intersection of 12 Mile and Orchard Lake Road – and when you look at all the factors, such as student populations, road traffic, ease of access, and proximity to an abortion facility – it just resonates: “COME!” You can almost hear the loud yet gentle whispers: “Bring LIFE!”
Driving North of 12 Mile on Orchard Lake Road screams something else: “Look Out!” The further North you go, the more congested it gets! No chance of someone stumbling across OUR sign in THAT jungle! And did I mention one of our board members was in a (minor) fender-bender when he was “property shopping” on Orchard Lake Road?
That means that 12 Mile Road, east or west of Orchard Lake, is the place we want to be! Now, finding the right SPACE…
Every foot has a dollar sign. We need enough room – but not too much room. Yet it would be good to have room to grow into, so we can become “established” and not have to relocate if we need to expand.
Entrance doors are important too. Having one door for clients and another for material goods drop off that is close to a room for storage – now that would be good! That way we're not bringing cribs and baby clothes through the reception area. Having no stairs, steps, porches or ramps is even better.
The space must have its own bathroom facility. We cannot send a pregnancy test client down the hall to a public rest room with a Dixie cup in hand!
The space should offer privacy, yet not be hard to find. Someone should be able to enter without feeling “exposed” – like a suite in the middle of a major strip mall, or an entrance that faces a fast-food drive-thru!
Signage is important. Even IF clients find us online, on Facebook or by word-of-mouth – they still have to FIND US without having to stop to ask for directions! The sign should have lights. Many of our clients drive at night!
And then, we need to have a landlord or co-tenants that LIKE us – not OPPOSE us. We were really interested in one location, but the landlord wasn’t sure he wanted to share tenant space with us. He wasn't “personally opposed to what you do, BUT....my customers may not like what you’re doing."
You'd think WE were the abortionists - the ones who profit by destroying human life within the womb.
When I heard what this property owner had said about co-tenantcy with AWPC, I took it personally. I wanted to tell him, "We are the 'good guys', the ones with compassion and care and hope and real answers! We are those who defend and support LIFE! And we care deeply about the health and welfare of women! And men! How could you NOT want to be OUR neighbor?"
The Holocaust Museum is right around the corner. You might think that would be enough of a reminder!
So we have found a few suitable locations, BUT… We're still looking!
Stay tuned.
And please, keep praying!
May 7th: A proposal was submitted to the landlord at yet a 3rd suitable location. Please pray! And stay tuned!
Karen Jewell
Director