Begin by asking your architects and planners to give you an alternate
first phase of the project with a lower cost that is more realistic in
case you don't happen to raise $1.5m.

Also, I hope your architects are including a pro-active maintenance
program to keep the building in good condition in future years. (It would
be a shame to upgrade conditions and then just let the buildings
deteriorate again.) If not I refer you to the Practical Restoration
Report, Managing Maintenance for Historic Buildings.

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant
26 Higgins St., Portland, ME 04103, USA
207 773-2306
Old-House Journal, Contributing Editor
AOL, HouseNet, Historic HomeWorks, Pundit, [log in to unmask]
CompuServe, Handyman, Old Houses, SYSOP, [log in to unmask]
http://members.aol.com/johnleeke/private/pages/hhw-home.htm

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant
26 Higgins St., Portland, ME 04103, USA
207 773-2306
Old-House Journal, Contributing Editor
AOL, HouseNet, Historic HomeWorks, Pundit, [log in to unmask]
CompuServe, Handyman, Old Houses, SYSOP, [log in to unmask]