Examples abound of ways to keep life in sacred spaces

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GORDON DANIELS

St. Mary's

NORTHAMPTON - In the ancient city of Trevi, Italy, a centuries-old church that once served as a chapel for the city's nobility has been transformed into a breathtaking vacation villa.

In the Netherlands, a massive, 800-year-old Dominican church is now home to a spectacular and prize-winning contemporary book shop.

And in the Rockies, a former 19th-century Methodist Episcopal church in Denver was given new life in the form of 12 high-end condominiums known as Sanctuary Lofts.

So what's in store for St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Northampton after it closes in less than two months? So far, nobody, not even the Springfield Diocese, has a good answer.

"It's a very tough question," says Frank Sleegers, an assistant professor of landscape architecture at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. "I'm actually intrigued by this."

A native of Germany, where some former churches have been turned into civic buildings, Sleegers said city residents should be involved in any decision, given the prominence of the landmark church downtown.

"I would hate to see a building like this falling into pieces," he said. "I would make a competition. A design charrette competition. This can invigorate some energy and creative thoughts."

Sleegers was among several urban design professionals and planners interviewed by the Gazette seeking ideas about potential reuses for the county's oldest Catholic church.

In a decision that stunned St. Mary's parishioners and others last week, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield announced plans to keep open Sacred Heart Church on King Street rather than St. Mary of the Assumption Church, which was earlier slated to be the main church serving one new parish in Northampton.

The reversal came after some parishioners expressed concerns about parking and accessibility for the elderly at St. Mary's, on Elm Street at the gateway to Smith College, according to the diocese. The diocese also cited a recent internal report that pegged the costs of maintenance and repairs at St Mary's at $1.3 million over the next several years.

"You're never going to find a middle ground on something like this and make everybody happy," said Mark E. Dupont, a diocese spokesman. "The bishop (Timothy A. McDonnell) has made these difficult decisions and he's willing to make them. His change, I can't reiterate enough, is based on reactions from the community."

Dupont said the diocese has not yet determined a reuse for St. Mary of the Assumption, nearby St. John Cantius Church, or any other churches slated to close in early January.

"Bishop doesn't even really allow these discussions until after the closings," Dupont said, noting that for every building the diocese closes, the first question asked is whether there is a potential reuse for the Catholic community.

"Only after that question has been examined carefully, do we move ahead with any other discussions," Dupont said.

He noted that the bishop is well aware of the significance of St. Mary's parish and church based on its "long and cherished history" as well as its prominent location.

"Because of these factors, any future disposition will be most carefully considered," he said.

Among the types of reuse that makes the most sense at St. Mary of the Assumption Church is allowing the late 19th-century building to be used by another religious denomination seeking a house of worship, said Joel Russell, an urban planner and land-use attorney in Northampton.

"A religious organization looking for a house of worship should be recruited to look at this building," said Russell, who is also chairman of the city's rezoning committee.

But like others interviewed, Russell said there are no easy answers for the future of St. Mary's, which was dedicated in 1885 and serves the county's oldest Catholic parish on record. Whatever happens, Russell said, he hopes the Catholic church will work together with the city's residents in determining the church's fate.

"It's one of the buildings that gives a sense of place," Russell said. Losing it "would be a tragedy," he said.

Some planners are scratching their heads at the diocese's decision to close St. Mary's in favor of Sacred Heart on King Street.

"I think we were all kind of stunned," Russell said of the diocese's decision to close the towering, multi-spired Elm Street church that by its very location is an appendage to the Smith College campus.

The King Street church has ample parking, more acreage and, conceivably, lends itself more to redevelopment and creative reuse because of its location in a business district, said Northampton City Planner Wayne M. Feiden.

"I was disappointed with the switch," said Feiden.

Across the street at the corner of West and Main streets, local businessman Eric Suher has been methodically renovating the former First Baptist Church into a function hall. But that space has yet to open or even show it has a market to be successful.

"Can we really support another one of these things?" said Feiden.

Asked what kind of reuse he would recommend for St. Mary's, Feiden suggested that a performing arts space might be one avenue to explore.

Others have suggested the church be used as a large community space that is sorely needed in city government, while some are already speculating that Smith College may be interested in buying the property to meet one of its pressing needs. Smith College officials say they have not had conversations with the diocese about St. Mary's, nor have they expressed interest in the property.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield says that in the short term, it plans to keep open the rectory at St. Mary of the Assumption and continue to use the parish center at St. John Cantius. Those arrangements are expected to remain in place until a new pastor is named and begins working with parish leaders to address the new parish's facility needs.

Three Catholic churches in the city are scheduled to close in January: St. Mary of the Assumption, St. John Cantius and either Our Lady of the Annunciation or Blessed Sacrament.

"It's going to be people working together for the first time across parish boundaries," said Dupont, of the diocese. "We want them to be able to make good local decisions."

Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.