Developing darbe mehrs

Twenty years of effort culminated in the inauguration of the Zoroastrian Center of North Texas on April 30, 2011. For the nearly 200 families who constitute the Zoroastrian Association of North Texas, their new 5,000 sq ft Center that houses a darbe mehr with an atash dadgah and a multi-purpose hall is a treasured facility to enhance their faith with fun and fellowship. A detailed report of this development will feature in the next issue of Parsiana.

Redevelopment of community centers has even become a priority for Zoroastrian associations in Ontario and New York.

"It is with deep regret, disappointment and frustration that we have to inform you of another delay with the start of construction. After having received the signed site plan agreement which has been registered on title and getting the demolition permit on May 26, 2011 we were informed on June 22 that there is a departmental discussion in progress related to whether our Darbe Mehr fronts Bayview Avenue or Creekside Road,” conveyed the July 2011 newsletter of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO). Considering that for the last five years ZSO has been proceeding with plans on the basis of a written statement by the city planning department that the temple fronts Bayview Avenue, the department’s sudden indecisiveness has stalled construction activity.

The community and ZSO office bearers in particular seem to be on a see-saw for just the earlier month’s newsletter had carried a message from president Sam Vesuna: "It is with very great pleasure we announce that we have received the permit to start construction of our new Darbe Mehr at our present site. It will be the first Zoroastrian designed temple in Canada. We are all very excited that we can now start construction after nearly five years since we submitted our building application in August 2006.”

Whilst the architects await a building permit, ZSO is firming up their building costs for which they have been tendering and receiving quotes from various trades. To negotiate better quotes they have been advised to conduct deeper soil tests keeping in mind that their current plans provide for a second underground level of parking. Since the entire process was expected to take around 18 days the ZSO committee decided to defer the temporary shift so that plans for their annual general meeting on July 31 and the muktad program thereafter are not upset.

From top: Zoroastrian Center of North Texas, blueprints of proposed Darbe Mehrs in New York (center) and Ontario

"Just as the great philanthropist Arbab Rustom Guiv and his family came to North America and gifted us this beautiful property, it will be our generation’s contribution to our children and future Zoroastrians to expand on the Guiv family’s gift,” stressed Vesuna, urging the community to rally "with their hearts and generosity to complete this project as fast as possible.”

Meanwhile a group of 17 ‘diehard believers’ who constitute the New Darbe Mehr Initiative (NDMI) are working on a project to build a new Darbe Mehr on their current 3.32 acre Pomona property in New York. "The building would be designed to reflect a strong Zoroastrian ambiance and be a welcome meeting place for Zoroastrians and their guests,” notes the June 2011 newsletter of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY).

"The current Darbe Mehr has served us well for the past 10 years and it is now time to build for the next generation,” mentions a detailed note by Edul Daver explaining the rationale, layout and costing of the proposed structure. "The existing property is outstanding but the building is inadequate for our needs and most importantly it is void of a Zoroastrian look and ambiance,” adds Daver.

After six designs and almost 300 hours of design time, the Darbe Mehr Zoroastrian Temple, the Iranian Zoroastrian Association and ZAGNY have unanimously endorsed one plan for the new Darbe Mehr that will have a prayer hall, main function hall, four classrooms and three meeting rooms, recreation room for youngsters, kitchen and serving area with support areas like coat room, rest rooms, storage areas, green rooms, elevator, etc.

As per their initial cost estimates they require $ 3,000,000 (Rs 135,000,000) for the basic, decorator ready, building structure with a further $ 500,000 (Rs 22,500,000) for quality upgrades and customization, and $ 500,000 for exterior improvements. The operational and maintenance costs are expected to approximate the current expenditures. As against the costs envisaged, the seed money collected and pledged includes the $ 680,000 (Rs 30,600,000) by the existing building fund, $ 500,000 NDMI Funds, $ 200,000 (Rs 9,000,000) pledged by Pallonji Mistry, $ 40,000 (Rs 1,800,000) from new collections and $ 40,000 from new pledges. "The funding gap between projected cost of $ 4,000,000 (Rs 180,000,000) and current collection/pledges of $ 1,500,000 (Rs 67,500,000) is $ 2,500,000 (Rs 112,500,000). With about 200 active Zoroastrian families we would need to collect an average of about $ 12,500 (Rs 562,500) and preferably $ 15,000 (Rs 675,000) to account for contingencies,” states Daver.

As per their time line to progress on the project, by August 2011 the site plan was to be developed, bids obtained and major fund raising effort launched; by December 2011 permissions are to be sought with clearly defined construction costs; 2012 should see ground breaking and commencement of construction so that some event may be coordinated with the XVI North American Zoroastrian Congress in August 2012.