Church’s fate uncertain
A city review panel heard testimony this week from supporters of an AIDS-services agency who say an old agency-owned church must be demolished, if the agency is to have any chance of surviving.
Supporters of Siloam Ministries told the city’s Board of License and Inspection Review Monday that the historically certified Church of the Assumption is in danger of collapse — and its deteriorating facade is scaring away potential buyers of adjacent properties also owned by Siloam.
Last September, the Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to allow the demolition on the basis that it would be a financial hardship for Siloam if it were required to maintain the church.
But the Callowhill Neighborhood Association wants the review board to reverse that decision and block the demolition.
Siloam no longer has an executive director, now relying on volunteers to provide services, and most likely will have to close if it can’t raze the church, supporters testified at the March 14 hearing.
They said Siloam offers alternate AIDS therapies including Reiki massage, stress-reduction training and nutritional counseling to low-income people with HIV/AIDS.
The former Catholic church, which has been vacant since the mid-1990s, is located at 1133 Spring Garden St. Siloam purchased it from the Archdiocese five years ago.
Bevan Lawson, a structural engineer, testified that water infiltration and other problems have rendered the structure unstable.
“There’s a significant amount of work that needs to be done to bring this structure up to code,” Lawson told review-board members.
Other witnesses testified that a buyer for the church couldn’t be found when the economy was thriving, let alone during a nationwide recession.
But CNA members said the church — which has historic ties to two saints — attracts visitors to the area, and rehabbing it would be well worth the effort.
They said Siloam’s survival isn’t controlled by the fate of the church, and noted that The Clay Studio, a nonprofit ceramic arts organization, is interested in purchasing it.
Timothy Duffield, a representative of The Clay Studio, told board members he was prepared to testify about his organization’s desire to rehab the church.
But, citing time constraints, board members asked Duffield to postpone his testimony until later this month.
The next hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 28 at 1515 Arch St., 18th floor.
—Tim Cwiek
Abington continues nondiscrimination debate
The Abington Board of Commissioners last week voted to form a committee to examine a revised version of an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance.
The board established the six-member committee at its March 10 meeting. The first committee meeting has not yet been scheduled, but it will be closed to the public.
The committee will discuss a nondiscrimination ordinance introduced last month by Commission President Carol DiJoseph after a more comprehensive bill, spearheaded by out Commissioner Lori Schreiber, was voted down.
Gala for AIDS awareness
The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium will host a fundraising gala next weekend that seeks to counteract negative social attitudes toward HIV/AIDS.
TPAC’s Erasing the Stigma will be held from 6:30-11 p.m. March 26 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St.
The event, which will feature dancing, a silent auction and raffle, will include celebrity guest speaker Sheryl Lee Ralph, emcee Jim Donovan from CBS3 and music by DJ Michael DeCero.
Tickets are $125 and can be purchased at www.tpaconline.org or by calling 215-988-9970.
— Jen Colletta