The last last-ditch plea for Notre Dame?

July 18--WORCESTER -- The City Council has kept the door ever so slightly open on a compromise proposal to save the former Notre Dame des Canadiens Church, but the developer of the property says what has been suggested isn't feasible.

Ann K. Tripp, president of Opus Investment Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanover Insurance Group -- the principal investor in the CitySquare redevelopment project -- has all but ruled out the compromise that calls for new commercial construction on the site and creation of a half-acre public garden while preserving the downtown landmark as an architectural monument.

"As we conveyed to City Manager Augustus and all parties involved nearly a month ago, in the absence of a willing, able and well-capitalized party with a viable redevelopment plan, we are unable to incur further carrying costs, or to add to the significant costs already incurred, to further delay the environmental abatement and related demolition that is presently well underway," Ms. Tripp wrote in an email Tuesday to Ted Conna, co-leader of the Save Notre Dame Alliance.

She also pointed out that John Kelly, the city's commissioner of Inspectional Services, told the City Council last month that the condition of the church building is already "past the point of no return."

Ms. Tripp added that given the size, scope and geometry of the parcel that Notre Dame Church is situated on at Salem Square, it is "not feasible" to construct another building on the lot adjacent to the church.

All of which means that demolition now underway of the vacant, nearly 90-year-old church will apparently continue without further delay.

The City Council Tuesday night referred to City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. two petitions regarding the compromise solution for the Notre Dame site.

But Mayor Joseph M. Petty emphasized that the city is not in control of the property and, as a result, could offer no promises regarding the proposed compromise. He said the City Council has done pretty much everything it can do regarding Notre Dame, and the fate of the building is out of the city's hands.

But he said the city manager is willing to still take a look at the two petitions.

"We'll send them to the city manager and see what happens," Mr. Petty said.

CitySquare II Development Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Hanover Insurance Group, bought the church in 2010. It had been vacant since 2007 when it was closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester.

CitySquare II initially had planned to preserve the church and find another use for it, but after several years without success in that regard, and with the church falling into disrepair, a decision was made to demolish it.

"Why are we still here?" Mr. Conna asked rhetorically while addressing the City Council on his petition. "Because we believe the total destruction of Notre Dame is very, very wrong."

Mr. Conna is one of 13 plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against CitySquare II. The group contends that CitySquare II has failed to submit the planned demolition of Notre Dame Church to state-level review as required by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

The suit is pending in Worcester Superior Court. A Superior Court judge and the state Appeals Court, however, both denied a request last month for a preliminary injunction to halt demolition of the church.

Mr. Conna said he and the other plaintiffs would be willing to consider dropping their lawsuit if a compromise can be negotiated on saving Notre Dame Church. He said that, in turn, would expedite redevelopment of the property.

He said cost of the compromise proposal would be "quite manageable," possibly in the range of $3 million to $4 million.

"We're not talking about restoring Notre Dame for year-round use so the cost would be much lower," Mr. Conna said. "We feel the ($3 million to $4 million) is an achievable goal through a public fundraising campaign. Help us to get a win-win on this."

In a related matter, Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes asked the city manager to communicate with the owner of Notre Dame Church regarding the building's remaining stained glass windows.

She said an effort should be made to transfer ownership of the windows to a preservation organization, such as Preservation Worcester, so they can be properly stored until an appropriate re-installation site is identified.

"We should try to salvage what we can given the fact that the church has been cannibalized already," Mrs. Lukes said. "Let's see what we can save from that building."

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