SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Heavily damaged by fire between March 21 and March 22, the former convent building on the former Franciscan Academy/Maria Regina College campus on Syracuse’s North side will soon come down.
The City of Syracuse division of code enforcement issued a condemnation notice and order of emergency demolition for the four-story brick structure near the intersection of Grant Boulevard and Court Street.
The former convent is also referred to as the “Motherhouse,” per Friday’s announcement from the City of Syracuse. The city said it will seek demolition as soon as possible, subject to permitting and development of a demolition plan.
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The structure at 1024 Court St. was ravaged by a fire that started early in the evening on Friday, March 21 and burned for nearly 24 hours.
Based on inspections and drone footage of the building, code enforcement determined that it presents an “imminent danger and a hazard to public health, safety and welfare.” It said the weakened remains of the structure, which was built at the turn of the 20th century, also represent a threat to first responders in the event of another emergency at the site.
Code-enforcement representatives have been in communication with the property owner — The Kimberly at Grant Boulevard LLC —as well as Rochester–based Home Leasing LLC, the proposed future developer of the site, regarding the order and planning for demolition.
Working with contractors, the Kimberly, Home Leasing, and City of Syracuse teams are developing plans to ensure the demolition protects structures that connect to the Motherhouse. Home Leasing has said it will continue with its plan to rehabilitate the remaining buildings as affordable senior housing, per the city’s announcement.
“Losing the Motherhouse is a sad outcome for our community,” Michael Collins, commissioner of neighborhood and business development, said in the city’s announcement. “We can take some solace that the repurposing of this remarkable property will go forward.”
