fixBuffalo

WTF do I know...

Last month we learned that Bishop Kmiec was preparing to "rightsize" the diocese with regards to its realestate. Immaculate Conception located at Edward & Elmwood was the first closing in a planned and systematic response to Buffalo's shrinking population.

A week later we learned that people are not going to church as much as they used to. See this capsule history. Parishes buildings and schools throught out Buffalo are going to be closed. Here's the article, archived from the Buffalo News.

I've written about what has happened in the past when the church leaves buildings behind. And if past performance is any guide to what's going to happen down the line, be prepared for additional bad management of local architectural treasures.

This week I re-visited the church at 768 Broadway that will be demolished later next week. I had also heard about the plans to build a new catholic church on the corner of Eagle and Hickory that were announced.

I know it's totally "politically in-correct" and some might consider it bordering on the profain...but I've often wondered how an organization with such a terrible record of managing old buildings might even be considered for a building permit for new construction. I mean we haven't even begun to hear from Bishop Kmiec the extent to which the Catholic Church will be abandoning property here in the city. And he just told us that the reason why Immaculate Conception must close is that the diocese can not afford to make $800,000 worth of repairs.

Meanwhile I always wanted to take a snap of this house at 79 Oakland Place here in the city. It's where Bishop Kmiec lives. The city assesses the property at a cool $916,000... with a spacious 11,000 sf interior. I just checked and none of the other properties on Oakland come even close to matching this place in size or assesment.

Here's the spin on Diocesen dis-investment plan for the city of Buffalo. Check it out. You might know one of the 25 committee members scheduling the closing and dis-investment.

"We'll have to be transparent, to make people feel as if we're not concocting something behind their back," the bishop said.

So, what do I know? Why not start by insisting that Bishop Kmiec devise a viable plan for the sale of its property. Instead of letting it sit and enter the initial phases of "demoltion by neglect" or flipping it to some un-suspecting inter-city congregation let's hold the church accountable this time as it prepares to continue dis-investing from the city of Buffalo.

Maybe I'm alone in my criticism here but couldn't a strong case be made that instead of building another brand new church in the city's east side, Bishop Kmiec should be convinced of the merits of rennovating one of the abandoned churches...three candidates come to mind.

click to enlarge

But then again, what do I know?

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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq