New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Loss of historic buildings hurts city
Observers of the city scene might have noticed two quiet demolitions in the weeks before Christmas on Columbus Avenue and Liberty Street, leaving piles of shattered bricks where centuryold religious buildings had stood.
Carried out by St. Martin de Porres Academy, the demolition is the first step in reshaping the block to install new recreation fields and more parking. The demolished buildings, the former convent and rectory of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, were sold by the diocese to St. Martin de Porres Academy a decade ago when Sacred Heart was deconsecrated. The academy developed a master plan in 2019 to place basketball and soccer fields along Portsea Street, including the site of the former rectory, and a parking lot where the convent was located.
Both the convent and the rectory were contributing structures to the Trowbridge Square National Historic District. Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places is an honor, one which deserves careful consideration of feasible alternatives before deciding on demolition.
The New Haven Preservation Trust tried several times to suggest alternatives that respected the school’s need for upgraded playing fields. Trust staff and board members brought in representatives of Preservation Connecticut and the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office to help persuade academy officials to revise their plan. The buildings represented community assets that could have produced muchneeded income to support site improvements and other benefits for the academy’s students. For instance, the convent building could have been renovated and rented to nonprofit agencies, generating a permanent income stream. However, no real attention was paid to alternatives to demolition once the academy’s plan was created.
We regret that the New Haven Preservation Trust and St. Martin de Porres Academy were not able to work together. The demolished buildings held great historic value to the city. They were created to serve the community and did so for decades. Residents may remember the “Trowbridge Renaissance,” spearheaded by the Sacred Heart clergy, which was credited with helping to rid the neighborhood of drug dealers and clean up the park.
While much of the neighborhood’s significance lies in its classic urban square surrounded by 19th century working-class houses, the St. Martin de Porres campus represented an outstanding architectural grouping and an important neighborhood resource. The academy’s plan resulted in the loss of two of New Haven’s irreplaceable treasures.
As preservationists, we know that any building still standing has a chance to be saved. While we acknowledge that the convent and rectory were in a state of decay, we believe that given the time and cooperation, the trust could have helped the school find a feasible alternative to demolition that also gave the students the recreation space they deserve.
Furthermore, the preservation and restoration of even one of the buildings would have been an excellent learning tool, teaching the academy’s students about the distinctive history of the Trowbridge Square neighborhood, how architecture contributes to the city’s quality of life, and the value of community collaboration.