New life in store for Sacred Heart school and convent
KITCHENER — Plans are afoot to breathe new life into long-vacant buildings in the Mount Hope neighbourhood.
The bishop and officials from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton met with city officials earlier this month to talk about steps to redevelop the 1927 Sacred Heart convent at 79 Moore Ave., and the 1912 Sacred Heart school next door at 81 Moore Ave.
Both buildings are owned by the diocese but have sat empty for decades.
The diocese hopes to begin redevelopment by mid or late 2019, said Jim Long, the diocese’s director of finance and administration.
“We are so thrilled,” said Coun. Sarah Marsh, who represents the area. “This is a very positive move.”
The neighbourhood hasn’t been happy about the number of derelict buildings in an otherwise active, vibrant area, Marsh said.
When the diocese bought the school, it boarded up the building to protect it from vandals. “That was not well received in the neighbourhood,” Marsh said. “It makes it look derelict. Before, the building did not jump out as vacant. Now, there’s no mistaking it.”
The city and diocese agreed to hold a charrette, a sort of planning brainstorming session, with the neighbourhood this fall, to come up with possible uses for the site.
The city held a similar charrette in April on the fate of the abandoned Electrohome site a couple of blocks away on Shanley Street, and the idea intrigued diocese officials.
“We’re trying to get some ideas on what to do with the properties,” Long said.
“What does the neighbourhood want? Are there any great ideas out there? If there is, we want to hear them.”
The diocese bought the properties to try to increase parking at the adjacent Sacred Heart Church, which had just a handful of parking spots but attracts parishioners from further afield because it offers Polish and English services.
Any redevelopment ideas would have to meet the diocese’s goals, which include long-term parking for the church. Any plan couldn’t involve huge expenditures of money, and would have to be compatible with church values and teachings, Long said.
A residential use, an old age home, or some social service use might fit the bill, he said. Affordable housing might be a good fit, too, Marsh said.
“They’re very cognizant of wanting to be a good neighbour,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic of the diocese. “I will say I’ve been more encouraged than I’ve ever been that we can move forward and find some viable solutions for those buildings.”
The buildings’ heritage interest and their current condition could limit development options.
The convent was assessed as being in fairly good condition, but the school was closed in 1994 because of serious structural defects that were prohibitively expensive to fix.