Client Archive: Sheila Austin

Road to Emmaus Ministry is a nonprofit organization that serves the poor and homeless on the Southside of Syracuse. In 2015, Emmaus was planning to build a covered porch in front of their Glen Avenue Facility. They had contacted Ed King, one of Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects, P.C.’s good friends, to help them in the planning and construction of the project. Ed knew it would be important to bring in the TKF team to assist in the design of the project.

Dan Fay was able to join Ed and Sheila at Emmaus to check out the project so that our team could put together a design for pricing and permit. After everything was reviewed, Ed told the group he needed to go to another appointment. Sheila and Dan continued talking inside, until Dan noticed a statue of St. Marianne Cope on a table in the dining room area. Sheila explained that she would love to incorporate the statue into the porch but just didn’t think it was possible with the current design. Dan, always up for a challenge, talked more with Sheila and together the two of them came up with a new design which would include a lighted niche for the statue at the front of the new porch. This new design meant that St. Marianne is not only present in the neighborhood, but is looking over all the patrons as they enter Road to Emmaus Ministry.

In 2022, we got another call from Sheila. She explained that Road to Emmaus Ministry was planning an expansion project that would double the program area of the Glen Ave. facility. In order to start construction on any project we have to get them approved by the local municipality. Since Emmaus is within the City of Syracuse, our team, Sheila, and her team had to go to City hall to appear before the city zoning and planning boards. It can often be nerve wracking to speak at public hearings and explain what the project entails in hopes of getting approval to start moving forward. If the City denies the project then the whole planning process has to begin all over again, at which point it is probably unlikely the owner will be able to do what they want. In this instance we were lucky to have Sheila with us. After Dan and Emmaus’ legal team explained the project, Sheila was able to talk to the City Board Members about all of the amazing things that the staff at Road to Emmaus do each day to make the community a better place. After she finished talking there wasn’t a dry eye in the hearing room and, not surprisingly, the approvals were granted almost immediately.

Construction for the new expansion began with excavation for the new addition in October 2023. As anyone who has ever had construction done on their house knows, the activities and noise can be quite disruptive. Dan Fay asked one of Emmaus’ Board Members if the disruption of the construction activities were causing Sheila any stress, to which he responded “are you kidding? She loves this stuff!” Sheila’s caring and concern does not just apply to her patrons. Any time a member of the design or construction team had any illness or issue, she always asked about how they were doing. She even remembers Dan’s interest (or rather obsession) with old cars, and always wants to know what he drove when he visits.

In our office we talk a lot about how proud we are to be able to assist our clients. That is profoundly true in Sheila’s case. We all admire the work that she does, and are delighted to play even a small part in enabling her to do that work. We can’t wait to work with Sheila again soon.