SPRINGFIELD -- The long-closed Our Lady of Hope Church remains a Hungry Hill landmark, but a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield said there is no long-term reuse plan of the site, which he said is hampered by its city-imposed designation as a historic district.
The diocese closed the church on Dec. 31, 2009, triggering sadness and anger from parishioners and others. The closing was just days after the Armory Street property was created as a single-property historic district by vote of the City Council, aimed at protecting the church from demolition or harmful exterior changes.
The future?
It will continue to be used for storage of items from other closes churches and diocesan facilities, said Mark E. Dupont, diocesan spokesman.
With the approval of the Springfield Historical Commission, its stained glass windows were removed in 2016 and 2017, and nine were relocated to the successor church, Mary, Mother of Hope on Page Boulevard, officials said.
The church had double windows -- the stained-glass windows on the inside and clear-glass windows on the outside, offering some protection. A view of the church exterior this week found a couple of small windows that were broken.
There is general upkeep of the property, and those windows will be fixed, Dupont said.
The church steeple houses cellular antennae, bringing in rent revenue, Dupont said. The attached former rectory continues to be used as administrative offices for the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The church property is not being marketed, Dupont said.
"It goes without saying, the historic designation was unfairly placed on this site, limiting future development, but for the time being we have found a way to utilize the site within these limitations," Dupont said. "It is hard to see what benefit, other than nostalgia, that has come to the city from this single parcel historic district designation."
The statements occur as the diocese demolishes another long-closed church this week -- Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke, drawing criticism from many former parishioners and residents.
Springfield Ward 2 Councilor Michael Fenton, whose ward includes Hungry Hill and who was a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope Church, said the historic designation has served well, protecting the church.
"Unlike the site in Holyoke, Our Lady of Hope Church is not in jeopardy of demolition," Fenton said. "It has been protected from demolition since the City Council designated it a single parcel district."
Dupont said the church structure is stable.
"We have undertaken some work on the property and the most recent report indicates the structure is stable," Dupont said.
Fenton said he has met with Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, "and the current Bishop has been very supportive of my desire to protect the church."
"I have met with him in the past year to discuss the future of the building and I am grateful to him for his willingness to work with me and the City on this difficult issue," Fenton said. "I have found him to be thoughtful, compassionate, and pragmatic."
In Holyoke, there was a prolonged battle between the city and diocese over the plans for demolition, in which the diocese claimed the building was structurally unsound, disputed before demolition was allowed.
As a historic district, any changes to the exterior of the former Our Lady of Hope church must be approved by the Springfield Historical Commission.
The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the historic district in 2013. The ruling stated that the diocese's challenge of the district was premature, in part because there had been no proposal for reuse of the church or exterior changes, and no proof of substantial harm by its designation as a historic district.
The city began taxing the Our Lady of Hope property in July of 2010, due to its termination as a church, officials said.
The property taxes are approximately $32,000 a year, based on a current property valuation of $809,700, and a commercial tax rate set at $39.30. There is also Community Preservation annual tax surcharge estimated at $418.
The tax expense is covered by the rent paid, Dupont said.
In four of the past eight years, the diocese was granted abatements on their property tax bills that reduced the paid amount by roughly $7,300 annually.
Fenton said the former Our Lady of Hope "is a very special place for me and countless others."
The use of the rectory, first as temporary home for the administration offices of Cathedral High School and then by the Sisters of St. Joseph "is an example of how creative thinking can one day breathe life into Our Lady of Hope again."
"I am hopeful there will be a successful reuse of the structure in the future, and I look forward to working with this bishop on achieving that goal."