Now Featuring

Welcome to our next installment of ‘Now Featuring’!!!

This month we’re featuring an amazing project The Writer’s Cottage!

The Writer’s Cottage is a small, historic cottage on the private property of Ben and Robin Pasley in the center of Woodland Park, Colorado. It has two rooms, each with antique Murphy beds, which can serve as private living or sleeping spaces. It has a small kitchen and a bath with a shower. It has the features of modern comfort with electricity, water, and heat but was built in the 1930’s and is filled with the charm and simplicity of that time…it is also in dire need of renovation to get it ready to host retreat guests!

What is its primary purpose?
The purpose of the Writer’s Cottage is to host spiritually focused retreats for individuals and families of up to four people. These retreats will fall into three categories: creative retreats for authors and musicians, soul-care retreats for those in need of rest and restoration, and retreats for soul-searchers who need an escape to recalibrate their walk with God. Reservations at the Writer’s Cottage can be made for full days without overnighting (day retreats), or for any length of retreat the hosts deem appropriate. Most retreats will be a week or less.

What is the history of the Writer’s Cottage?
The Writer’s Cottage was originally constructed in 1935 by Freda Maytag, daughter of Frederick Louis Maytag, the founder of the Maytag Company which first began to dominate the innovation and sale of the powered washing machine in the 1920’s. Today, this historic property of about 2 acres, and three original structures: the main home, the Writer’s Cottage, and an outdoor entertainment building, all nestle in the very middle of Woodland Park as a jewel of the city, unlike any other construction in the area, and is the only home on the Woodland Park Honorary Historical Registry.

What services and amenities are provided at the Writer’s Cottage?
In terms of basic amenities, the Writer’s Cottage offers clean linens and towels per week. The Writer’s Cottage is heated in the winter, but it does not have air-conditioning as it is rarely needed in the cool, crisp Colorado mountains at 8,500 feet above sea level. Basic kitchen appliances, cookware, and serving-ware are provided along with a basic supply of paper products in the kitchen and bath. There is a gas stove, microwave, kettle for water, and a small refrigerator. A selection of tea and sugar is always on the kitchen counter. There is hot water. The grounds, with only some limitations, are open and available for walks, and prayer benches are nestled on the great property for enjoying the out of doors. Within a few city blocks, retreat guest can walk to local coffee, library, post office, restaurants, grocery store, micro-brewery and many quaint country stores and shopping sidewalks. Parking is available for one car per retreat family on the east side of the property just outside a small gate which opens almost immediately to the Writer’s Cottage, and does not intrude on the Pasley’s main home or drive.

Are there counseling or conversational services at the Writer’s Cottage?
At the Writer’s Cottage many retreat guests will come with an expectation of engagement with Ben and Robin Pasley or with any number of co-hosts from the area. These hosts might provide professional coaching to creative guests, counseling help to those who need soul-care, or just casual encouraging prayer and conversation for those in need of rest and quiet. These hospitality expectations and helpful conversations will be contracted prior to the retreat reservation per guest, per need, and in some cases the retreat guest may simply choose to retreat in complete, quiet isolation.

What are the present needs for restoration?
The present needs for restoring the Writer’s Cottage could be summarized in order of importance: foundation repair, updating mechanical lines, updating the room heater, updating the water heater, renovating the kitchen, restoring the wood roof, and updating the finishes. Because the stand-alone building is small and simply outfitted, these repairs are all straightforward for qualified contractors and volunteers with experience. The building is dry and in sound structural condition. The foundation is wood joists on a pier and beam foundation, but the piers have begun to settle, rot, and break over 75 years so now the whole buidling must be lifted up and reset on a linear concrete foundation to meet local codes. The mechanical lines are in good shape, but some must be moved to better winterize the Cottage, and a new water line must be dug from the main house. The room heater, water heater, and kitchen renovation are all simple installation of appliances or cabinetry. The roof needs to be scraped, patched, primed and painted. Most finishes and floors are in excellent condition, but exterior painting and some interior painting will be needful. The pictures above give a closer look at some of the needs for restoration and repair.

What is the budget for the restoration?
Our rough estimates of the present needs for restoration is $21,000 which assumes that much of the labor and even professional work will be done for reduced rates or through volunteer efforts. The foundation repair is estimated at $13,000, the mechanical modifications at $4,000, the propane room heater $750, the on-demand water heater $1,250, the kitchen updates and renovation at $1,000, the roof at $500, and the finishes at $500.

How can I get involved in the restoration?
There are two great ways to get involved! First, anyone can visit www.bluerenaissance.com and learn how to make a donation to support the effort. There are many levels of giving, and many levels of “thank you” gifts that accompany each one. The second way to get involved is to volunteer to come on sight and help. Skilled builders, excavators, electricians, plumbers and carpenters are needed for the project and even one day on the site could make a huge difference. Unskilled workers can also get involved in many phases of the restoration. Volunteers should visit www.bluerenaissance.com to find out about specific needs, planned work days, and the restoration progress!

When will the restoration project begin and end?
Restoration planning is already underway gathering estimates and consultation from professionals. The necessary fund-raising to begin the job is also underway with hopes to reach our minimum fundraising goal of $10,000  in order to be able to complete the job. Hopes are high to begin work this summer with volunteer labor and to complete the entire project by October 1, 2011.

When can we make reservations?
The Writer’s cottage will be available for retreats beginning September 1, 2011 if all goes according to plan. The Writer’s Cottage will offer special priority, free bookings of the amazing gift space in accordance with the size of the charitable gift or on-site help offered during the restoration season. The Writer’s Cottage is a private cottage and is not available for rental by the general public, but must be reserved through personal interaction with Ben and Robin Pasley and retreat hosts.