Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | May 15, 2017 | wbjournal.com As the demolition protection ends on Mount Carmel, another historic Worcester building enters the debate of preservation vs. teardown Historic redevelopment At Country Bank we treat our small business customers like a really big deal, because they are. Whatever your business banking needs, we'll be here for you with smart banking products, lending expertise, and personal guidance. We'd be honored to be your bank. So stop by and see us, and let's see about one of those high fives. Learn more at countrybank.com/business W E BELIEVE I N HELPI NG OUR HIGH FIVE WHEN THEY DO. OCCASIONAL AND THE SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS THRIVE Member FDIC | Member DIF BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal Digital Editor P reservation advocates in Worcester are asking them- selves a difficult question these days: Could Worcester support reuse of not just one former church, but two? A group of residents is mobilizing to stop a potential demolition of the closed Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Worcester as a legal roadblock delaying demolition ends May 19, echoing of the ongoing fight to save the Notre Dame des Canadiens Church downtown. While the city has not yet ordered demolition, if the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester sells Mount Carmel, the new owner could raze the property. The situation reflects the struggle of historic vs. modern as Worcester seeks to revitalize away from derelict, unused properties toward active use. Older buildings reflect the city's history and character, but while some like Union Station can be preserved, others like the former Worcester State Hospital have been torn down. A group named Preserve Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been leading a charge to save Mount Carmel. The group's vice president, Carmelita Belo, said they've heard from people across the country wanting to lend help. "The support is incredible," she said. Repair funds better spent elsewhere Mount Carmel, a Catholic church built in 1928 on Mulberry Street, closed abruptly a year ago this month, with the parish saying the building must be demolished because it has become unsafe and too costly to repair. The building's front facade was found to be leaning outward, requiring the removal of a decorative frieze at the roofline and installation of a net to catch any debris. "There are no assets available for the diocese to simply step in and maintain a parish when it is no longer financially viable on its own," the church's pastor, Stephen Pedone, said in a statement to parishioners last May. "Can we ask the diocese to forego service to others at the expense of a building we cannot afford to main- tain?" he asked. The parish is now talking to brokers for a potential sale of the site. Mount Carmel and Notre Dame share an unfortunate distinction: They were listed among the state's seven most endangered historical properties last year by the group Preservation Massachusetts. Heritage as part of revitalization Preservation Worcester, which has largely focused on the Notre Dame church, has pitched in to help save Mount Carmel. "From our perspective, it's a magnifi- cent building, but it also has a rich cul- tural heritage," said Deborah Packard, Preservation Worcester's executive director, describing the church's central role for the city's French community. Preserving historically significant buildings facing potential demolition requires patience, Packard said, adding she doesn't understand a need to rush for either church's deconstruction. She isn't especially encouraged about the future of the churches. "They're both very, very endangered," Packard said. Worcester has a complicated history with preserving its historic buildings. Acres of buildings were torn down to create the Worcester Center Galleria, and more were eliminated to make way for Interstate 290, which barely spared Mount Carmel. Carmelita Belo, the vice president of the group Preserve Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sits on a front step outside the church. "I still consider myself a parishioner of Mount Carmel," she said. Total value: $7.65 million Value of land only: $3.09 million Property size: 5.3 acres Zoning: Most is manufacturing, with Italian Center zoned for residential use Mount Carmel Church The Mulberry Street site, which also includes the Italian American Cultural Center, may be a prime development opportunity off Interstate 290. Source: Worcester Assessing Division

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