“To find Mishkon, look for the big shade tree!” (Speculation)

THE MOST PROMINENT LANDMARK for directing people to our historic sanctuary is usually overlooked. Yet it is literally right in front of our eyes! It is the big shade tree. This tree stands out, because it is the largest and best-looking one for 1½ blocks in every direction.

Furthermore, it stands out far more than Mishkon’s building, which is set back from the street.

Below the jump, this post shows the relative prominence of this tree when viewed from the north and south. Then it addresses how turn that prominence to our advantage.…

Neighbor asked to treat our south wall with care (Activity Report)

LAST FRIDAY, I noticed that a pallet was leaning against Mishkon’s south wall. 

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Anything that touches our wall is a matter of concern—admittedly minor, yet still significant. That green, 20-mil-thick silicone coating is the only thing that is keeping rainwater out of our building. And it is not easy to patch up that coating after it has been scratched or chipped.

So I wrote to the office of our neighbor, with the following request:

Can you perhaps ask your staff to avoid doing anything that risks marring the waterproof coating on that wall? 

I note this simple act here, because in future years—given possible staff turnover—the request will probably need to be repeated on occasion. 

 

Acquisition of photo of façade on 1948 Dedication Day (Announcement)

THE ONLY IMAGE that we have of our historic sanctuary’s façade as it looked on Day 1 was acquired just this past week, on 12/20/2024. (The 2003 Historic Structure Report was not aware of any photos like this one!)

Among the details that are visible, it shows a portable sign leaning against our building, which announces the dedication ceremony on 9/26/1948:

The cost of procuring a license for this image from the Santa Monica History Museum was donated by a generous Mishkon member. 

Below the jump, this post provides the full photo, plus a few words about it.…

Facilities management principles — and strategic budgeting (Statement)

STRATEGIC BUDGETING is about prioritizing funds for the efficient use of capital resources. The Building & Grounds Committee strives to set its own priorities accordingly.

Standard facilities management principles are what determine the order of priorities. And in Mishkon’s case, our sanctuary building’s status as a historic-cultural monument is also a factor. 

Generally speaking, our attention and money is best spent/invested in the following order, starting with the most important.

1. Life-safety (e.g., fire exits)
2. Integrity of the building envelope (against threats from: water intrusion, termites, earthquakes)
3. Important systems (whose failure would greatly disrupt normal activity)
4. Preventative maintenance, and improvements with a good return on investment (e.g., energy savings)
5. “Historic-cultural monument” status: attend to the “character-defining features”*
6. High-priority improvements (that would make the biggest difference)
7. Low-value maintenance

*In other words, which of these distinctive features, if they were restored, would have the biggest positive impact? Which of these features, if they were not preserved, would be the biggest loss to Mishkon and to Venice?

 

Why is this list important? 

Because if it is not followed, we are likely to end up with unhappy outcomes: catastrophes that were preventable, more money spent than was necessary, disruptions in our programs and services, undue burdens on our staff, etc.

Note that any visible “building improvements” — the exciting changes that you may be dreaming about — do not show up until #4 and #6 on this list!

DISCLAIMER: The above statement of principles and priorities is that of our committee only. It has not been officially endorsed by the board of directors. 

The shade tree’s roots are burgeoning (Condition Record)

OFTEN IT’S HARD to notice the changes in Mishkon’s circumstances over time. Occasionally, however, it’s easier. In the case of the shade tree in front of our sanctuary building, I happen to have snapshots over a 3½-year period. Taken together, they show a noticeable progression.

December 9, 2024
(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Below the jump, this post documents the changes during the period of monitoring. It also briefly discusses the implications.…

Repair of concrete retaining wall in stairwell, below school building (Activity Report)

WHILE A CONCRETE-REPAIR CRAFTSMAN was doing repair work elsewhere on the premises in mid-September, he redid this old patch, as well. 

November 2023 
(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

For a description of the problem, see HERE.

Below the jump, this post documents what was done, as well as how one resulting concern was handled.…

West wall of school building receives maintenance (Activity Report)

AS A FOLLOW-UP to my having noted in October the maintenance need HERE, I am pleased to record that our Director of Operations has arranged to have this wall painted, as part of a larger project in November. 

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

The quick turnaround is heartening. (Sometimes things do come together nicely!)

Below the jump, this short post documents the wall’s current condition via photos. They are meant to be compared directly with those in the previous post.

Front façade water intrusion repair and prevention (Completion Report)

THIS PROJECT was completed last month. It features several historically significant components of our sanctuary building’s façade. Therefore this post follows a report template in the 2003 Historic Structure Report, as recommended for all historic-cultural monuments. 

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Below the jump, this post restates the basic need and documents the work done. For more background, see HERE.…

Hidden structural steel in the basement (Condition Record)

YESTERDAY, I discovered a steel post downstairs—like the covered columns in the Social Hall but in an unexpected place. 

This one came to light as I was taking photos of the lower portion of opened-up walls that had been damaged in June 2023 by a flood caused by a faulty sprinkler head. (That story is HERE.) I noticed that one vertical member looked more like metal than like wood.

Below the jump, I show annotated photos of our normally hidden post.…