Threshold Summer 2007

The Process of Demolition of the Administration Building
by Sister Anne Shepard

Many of you readers have asked us about an update and a time line for the demolition of the Administration Building.

On March 13, we heard from our lawyers that the judge ruled in our favor by saying that the city violated our rights under the “Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.” This is a new interpretation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. Clearly, the federal judge deemed that monasteries have the right to determine what they judge to do with their property in keeping with their missions.

On March 26, I personally went to the courthouse to obtain the demolition permit. Of note was that the time line for completion of the project was waived.

On April 5, I signed a contract with a company to complete the demolition work. We also agreed to sell the light fixtures and some other salvageable materials. Some of the sisters worked to remove doors and other wooden items and delivered them to Habitat for Humanity in St. Joseph.

The first part of the process for the removal of the building was to hand separate St. Cecilia’s from the Administration Building using hand chisels and jack hammers. In late May the building was stripped of all organic materials which were taken to a safe landfill. The “hard” demolition began in mid June and will be completed by the end of October.

This has been a hard and painful process for us. Clearly, we believe this is the right way to proceed into our future. We have saved 1,000 bricks for souvenirs for any alumna or alumni that would want one. We are fully committed to “going green,” being as ecologically responsible as we can. We will keep you posted on the landscaping design of the newly uncovered acreage.