An historically designated Catholic church owned by a local AIDS service agency is about to become history itself.
Siloam wants to raze the Church of the Assumption, 1133 Spring Garden St., on the basis that the building isn’t economically viable and in danger of potential collapse.
In a 6-5 vote Sept. 10, the City’s Historical Commission granted the request, saying it would be unreasonable to expect Siloam to continue trying to sell or rent the building.
Siloam provides alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS, including yoga, massage, nutritional counseling and stress-reduction therapies. It serves about 1,000 clients with an annual budget of about $700,000.
Joseph A. Lukach, Siloam executive director, said he was grateful for and relieved by the commission’s vote, but he also expressed sadness that a beautiful structure will be demolished.
The church was built in 1848 by noted architect Patrick Charles Keely and consecrated by St. John Neumann, then a bishop. Ten years later, the now-St. Katharine Drexel was baptized there.
Due to a dwindling number of parishioners, the Archdiocese stopped using the church in 1995, and sold it to Siloam in 2006. Siloam also purchased a rectory, convent, storefront and parking area from the Archdiocese.
In May 2009, the Historical Commission placed the church on the city’s Register of Historic Places, noting its distinctive architecture and historic ties to two saints. But in June 2009, Siloam requested permission to demolish the church, due to the hardship it posed.
At last week’s meeting, Historical Commission member Joan Schlotterbeck questioned whether Siloam spent its time and resources wisely since March 2009, when the organization was first notified that the building might be designated as historical.
“Have these last 18 months been nothing but a waste?” she posed, before voting against the demolition.
Other dissenting commission members noted that city building inspectors haven’t yet declared the structure to be in imminent danger of collapse.
John A. Gallery, executive director of the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, said Siloam created its own hardship by dismantling the church’s interior in a manner that discouraged prospective buyers.
“I still feel that many of the changes they made to the interior of the building are reasons why it’s so difficult to find a buyer,” Gallery told PGN after the vote.
But Siloam attorney Kevin R. Boyle said any interior modifications made by Siloam were negligible when compared to the overall deterioration of the structure.
He said water infiltration and other factors have rendered the structure in danger of collapse — with its two Gothic-style spires possibly the first to go.
Commission member Sam Sherman, who cast the deciding vote in favor of demolition, said Siloam proved to his satisfaction that the building posed a financial hardship.
“This wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m confident that it was the right decision,” Sherman told PGN after the vote. “Any time you lose an historic asset, no one wins. But I had to make my decision based on the rules and regulations as they’re written, and Siloam demonstrated they have a financial hardship. I’m an advocate for historic preservation. I appreciate that the church was a lovely building. But in my mind, the commission acted within strict adherence to the rules and regulations.”
Still, Sherman stopped short of calling the preservation effort hopeless.
“Maybe the outcome of our decision will spur someone to come forward who’s able to help in the rehabilitation or purchase of the church. If that happens, the commission would be delighted,” Sherman added.
Neighborhood activists said an appeal is likely.
“We’re against the demolition, and we would like there to be more time to pursue sale of the building, mothballing of the building, whatever we can do to help preserve it,” said Amy R. Hooper, president of the Callowhill Neighborhood Association. “It’s clear to me Siloam has some tangible resources right in front of them — the vacant convent, the vacant parking lots. I think Siloam [officials] can find other ways to resolve their financial hardship, rather than demolishing this historic landmark.”
Hooper said the neighborhood association has until Sept. 25 to file an appeal with the city’s License and Inspection Review Board.
Those agencies that serve people with HIV/AIDS have backed the church’s demolition, including Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, ActionAIDS and Calcutta House.
“While I appreciate the historical significance of the building, when you are forced to make a decision between people and a building, you always have to choose people,” Matt Teter, executive director of Calcutta House, told PGN. “Siloam has been a key service provider to the residents and staff of Calcutta House for numerous services. A decision that leads to greater financial stability for Siloam is the direction that we should take.”
Andrew R. Palewski, an architectural preservationist who nominated the church for its historic designation last year, remains optimistic that both Siloam and the church will survive.
“I believe there’s a workable solution that will allow Siloam to sell the property, make a decent profit off of it and walk away with cash in hand,” Palewski told PGN. ”Many people believe Siloam can continue to pursue its mission, and allow this church to be preserved.”
Tim Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.