This weeks NCDC agenda contains an application to demolish The Annunciation Church
My guess is they want to demolish the Church along with the rectory and meeting hall to build senior housing. Which in and of itself may be a needed service, but with the abundance of vacant lots in the City it would seem a creative land swap might satisfy the space need.
After the flood of 2005 the Archdiocese seemed to get out of the business of serving communities and entered the housing market.
Many of us who live work or attend one of the many Churches which dot the City has been worried about what may happen to these significant buildings. I know when I purchased my home it was, in part because of the church which is located across the street from me.
Riding out to see this property today I was thinking about what kind of reaction there would be in my neighborhood if they proposed to tear down my neighborhood church.
It is time for the Archdiocese to come out and talk about the plans for the future and the future of it’s assets.
17 responses so far ↓
Nikki Page Sothern // Jul 30, 2009 at 9:35 pm
oh no. I bought my home because of the two churches behind it, a building belonging to one backs up on my yard and it is beautiful. I hate to see a well built, beautiful church go.
Jake // Jul 30, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Good god! These heartless holy rollers don’t care for their own damn legacy… make ‘em sell.
Annunciation Church Slated for Demo | New Orleans Metblogs // Jul 30, 2009 at 10:26 pm
[…] Karen and I both got our instant grits on today when we saw the properties here as part of the agenda for Monday’s NCDC meeting. I emailed a “?” and she picked up the subsequent call with a fast, “What the fuck?” I said, “No apologies necessary, any sense of urgency in this city is much appreciated on my end.” She tried to backtrack with a “Hello, how are you?” I wasn’t up for the pleasentries. […]
George Saucier // Jul 31, 2009 at 6:44 am
We survived Katrina! We cannot survive Hughes and company!
Mark Landrieu // Jul 31, 2009 at 9:21 am
The Archdiocese ought to be ashamed of themselves.
They need to write to me on a regular basis and rmind me why I am catholic.
Carol Q. Wilkerson // Jul 31, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Whay about all the empty buildings left to rot by the Archdiocese? They need to get a grip on the history of N.O. & restore & reuse.
Michelle // Jul 31, 2009 at 1:12 pm
The Archdiocese told me today that there are no immediate plans to redevelop the site.
John Martello // Jul 31, 2009 at 2:26 pm
No shame in these “leaders”.
Carolyn Bennett // Jul 31, 2009 at 5:11 pm
This is unconscionable.
The “seniors” probably are the most upset.
What has happened to tradition, respect, and neighborhood values in catholicism?
elizabeth duckworth // Jul 31, 2009 at 7:19 pm
The archdiocese was trying to do this on the sly–tear down an historic building, with the notice to the public merely posted on the door?
So, whose church is next?
Warren Hart // Jul 31, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I think it’s important to know who is requesting this demolition. It should be Ab Gregory Aymond to be legal. He was appointed June 12, and immediately Ab Hughes took another title. So if Hughes is requesting this, he should have no authority to do so. The property is probably owned legally (vs morally) by a corporation like “Congregation of Annunciation parish” where the president is the archbishop of New Orleans. This being an irreversible act, the one in charge should be requesting it.
Tim // Aug 1, 2009 at 3:32 pm
You obviously have the Archdiocese confused with someone who cares what the public they serve wants or needs.
Peace,
Tim
New Orleans Ladder // Aug 2, 2009 at 8:19 am
Hey Ms Karen, you got dat’right!
I spotted you when we hung our lede today for the WWLTV story on this:
[NO Archdiocese moves to start Phase-2.1 of its Real Estate Portfolio Re-allignment (REPR):
Raze their abandoned churches!]
Thanks youz,
Editilla~New Orleans Ladder
New Orleans Ladder // Aug 2, 2009 at 8:24 am
Sorry, errrahem!
Forgot my Editillaxicon:
Phase 1 began with the initial abandonment/white-flight issues.
Phase 2 began with the Post Flood Evictions
Now, they move into Phase 2.1: Demolitions
Jus’sayin…
Thanks again.
Ramiro Diaz // Aug 3, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Thanks for getting the word out about this Karen. It is mind boggling that the Archdiocese had no plans for the property other than to raze it and that the representative from the Archdiocese stated that this was the first of many properties that they were planning to submit for demolition. Was this a trial balloon? I am sure there will be more to this story…. Thanks to you and everyone from the St. Roch/Marigny neighborhood who came and spoke at the hearing.
scott heron // Aug 3, 2009 at 4:05 pm
just got back from speaking out against this at city hall. the committee voted unanimously to deny the request for demolition. several people spoke very passionately against demolition and one of the committee members reminded us to keep an eye on this because the church could still appeal.
Matt // Aug 3, 2009 at 11:25 pm
The archdiocese is already knocking down other properties that do not require NCDC review.
Included is Marian Central middle school in Gentilly along with its convent and cafeteria. The permits were activated last week:
Convent:
http://aca.accela.com/nola/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Permits&capID1=09COM&capID2=00000&capID3=00862&agencyCode=NOLA
School:
http://aca.accela.com/nola/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Permits&capID1=09COM&capID2=00000&capID3=00863&agencyCode=NOLA
Cafeteria:
http://aca.accela.com/nola/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Permits&capID1=09COM&capID2=00000&capID3=00864&agencyCode=NOLA
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