The number of people advocating the adaptive reuse of the former St. Aloysius church, rectory and convent has been growing exponentially over the last month. To coordinate their efforts a new website domain has been registered — www.SaveStAloysius.org.
The new site has been set up with links to several sites including this one. Bookmark the site and look for more to come soon.
– Steve
Tonight I attended a meeting at the Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association where people had the chance to say what they feel about the proposed demolition of the church and the proposed homes to be build. Many that spoke did not like the new home built by the developer at 2712 January. Many also spoke fondly of the church and adjacent buildings. However, they also have a negative view of condos. Basically, they seem to want a condo-free neighborhood.
I talked to a few people after the meeting and I get the impression they think single family is the only way to create a safe and stable neighborhood. Also, they fear lots of cars and traffic problems. However, the reality of this site is condos would create about the same number of units as single family houses so we’re talking about the same number of cars.
It was brought up a couple of times at the meeting was that nobody objected to the project until the Preservation Board meeting in December and that it was in the neighborhood’s October newsletter that went out to 3,000 households in the area. I had wondered numerous times why nobody responded. Tonight I was able to pick up a copy of the newsletter and I have a much better understanding after reading what was written. On page four of eight was a picture of the church and the headline, “St. Aloysius Gonzaga to become Magnolia Square.” Here is the text exactly as printed in the newsletter:
Wohlert Co. LLC was the successful bidder for the property fondly referred to as St. Al’s. After demolition of the existing structures Wohlert Co. plans to build Magnolia Square, a new development of 22 to 24 single family homes complete with detached garages and alley access. The lots are anticipated to measure 30 x 100′. Removal of the buildings will be according to the guidelines established by the St. Louis Archdiocese.
DiMartino Homes will build the homes to suit and will offer several floor plans and elevations. Lots will start at $75,000 and finished homes will start at $225,000. Demolition is to begin in November. Paul Fendler & Associates will provide architectural services, AMR will provide plumbing services, and Fielder Electric will handle electric.
Project Manager, Jim Wohlert will speak at our October 24th meeting
Could they have done anything else to say “this is a done deal so don’t even think about objecting?” If people made it to page four they probably glanced over it and thought there was nothing they could do to stop it now.
The demolition is just mentioned as a matter of fact. No mention is made of a public hearing before the Preservation Board. No mention is made of the Planning Commission looking at the proposed development at their December meeting. It is all ‘this is what is going to happen.’ Not a word of asking for input into what could happen. One woman that spoke tonight summed it up when she said she feels like it doesn’t matter what she says because it is going to happen anyway.
Our most vibrant neighborhoods include a mix of housing types including condos and for rent projects that take advantage of federal historic rehab tax credits. Without condo projects many areas seeing new residents would be stagnating. I remain convinced this complex is a major asset within the City of St. Louis and it would be a loss if it were razed.
– Steve
I spoke with Rothschild Development’s Chief Financial Officer, Michael Allen, by phone today regarding St. Aloysius. He confirmed they had submitted a bid to purchase the property. He didn’t have the contract in front of him but he said it was roughly for $1,000,000. You’ll note from prior posts that Wohlert purchased the property for $600,000.
Allen also confirmed their proposal indicated they would retain at least the church, rectory and convent buildings but they were uncertain about the parish hall and 1960s school. Their intended use on the site was residential.
Allen indicated they would have sought some sort of assistance such as Tax Abatement and/or TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for the project. Also, they would have wanted the property be listed on the National Register of Historic Places so the project would be eligible for historic tax credits.
Rothschild Development LTD is one of the more experienced developers in our region and they have recently taken on the former Lindenwood School and former St. Boniface church, both of which will be converted to residential uses.
A legitimate alternative to razing these buildings most certainly did exist. I firmly believe a great project can come of this site. I just hope Mr. Wohlert and Alderman Vollmer are open to alternatives such as the one previously submitted by Rothschild Development.
– Steve
Part of the debate regarding saving the structures at the former St. Aloysius is what to do with them. As a residential designer and real estate agent I can envision what the end result might look like but for many this is difficult. First, keeping the church, rectory and convent along with some land for garages will require half the site. The remaining half can and should be new construction. This new construction might be all single family homes but it might be some attached townhouses mixed with single family homes.
By my estimation 12 new residences can be built on the western half of the site while 8-12 units can be fitted into the three existing structures on the eastern half of the site. This gives us about the same number of total units as planned with all new residences but with far more character.
I’ve done some internet research and found a number of articles on churches in other cities that have been converted to condos. Below is a sampling of what I found:
In 2003, it hosted church services, and a year ago it sat vacant, but now the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church complex is showing signs of life after its transformation into condominiums.
The imposing stone church on East 22nd Avenue, made of rhyolite stone from Castlewood Canyon and Colorado red sandstone trim, originally housed a Methodist Episcopal congregation in 1871. Once the tallest building in Denver, a wood spire signaled a holy site, but by the 1990s the church fell on hard times.
Architecturally significant, built-to-suit, condos within a historically dedicated former church and rectory. Floor sizes vary from, 1,400 sq ft to 2,600 sq ft. Unfinished prices start at $190,000.
The pretty white building certainly looks like a church – it has a traditional steeple, several stained-glass windows, and soaring ceilings. But no longer does it echo with the sounds of worship. Instead, this church has taken on a new life – as a family home.
A Baltimore developer is planning to bring a trend that has been popularized in other cities and other parts of Baltimore to Mt. Vernon, with the redevelopment of the Sharon 7th Day Adventist church at the corner of Calvert and Chase Streets. Baltimore’s Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation gave final approval to developer Peter Sullivan last week to transform the vacant church, built in 1874, into four luxury condos. Each 1,500-square-foot unit will have two bedrooms, and Sullivan said he expects them to sell for more than $500,000 each.
Developers left the red brick in the rectory and the church’s granite exterior virtually intact, but split the church’s vast interior into five floors, retaining the wooden arches and stained-glass windows while installing stainless steel appliances, Jacuzzi tubs, skylights and granite countertops.
The development team, James and Bernard McFarland, both Catholics, converted the rectory and the church into condos to provide housing in an area of South Boston which has little housing. All eight units in the rectory sold last year, while 28 of the 36 units in the church sold since February this year when a real estate company began actively marketing them.
Now, these houses of worship are catching the eye of developers and preservationists.
In urban areas where land is scarce, developers are eager to convert them into condominiums, art galleries, discothèques, restaurants, nursing homes, schools and even single-family homes.
“There is a prestige factor,” says Michael Berkowicz, chairman of the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture at the American Institute of Architects. “Sacredness becomes part of the promotion.”
It was built in 1846 at 577 Adams Street in the Railway Village (now East Milton) to serve the religious needs of those moving to the area to work in the granite industry. A large Italianate church with a simple belfry, it was built amidst residential housing of Greek Revival through Italianate styles. Today, the former church has been converted to condominiums.
The attraction of a conversion is the location, the space and the uniqueness.
Most loft developments occur in industrial buildings located on the city’s fringes. But churches sit in the heart of communities, on leafy lanes and residential streets.
Their size and open design allow developers to carve out multiple level units with towering ceilings and arched windows running the height of the condominium.
Working together we can create both new homes and condos within the existing structures. Such a creative compromise is what the St. Aloysius site is calling out for.
– Steve
Wining & Dining of elected officials is not reserved for the big guys in Washington D.C. Local elected officials, such as members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, are offered dinners and trips by lobbyists for big business. Like Washington, some take and others do not.
The old cliche, ‘money is the root of all evil’, has never been more true. From what I hear some officials have come to expect these extra perks to give them the lifestyle their public salary would not otherwise permit. Sound familiar? We’re not talking about the kind of cash flowing to Congress but enough to raise questions of ethics.
I want to stress a couple of points. This is not only in the City of St. Louis —- this exists throughout the region. The other point is not everyone is on the take, but some are.
No names are mentioned here as I don’t have the documentation to prove anything — yet. But in time it will come out just as it has with Jack Abramoff in Washington. Eventually we are going to have a nice little local scandal of money and favoritism.
– Steve