'No doubt it's the most striking landmark in town'
October 31, 2007 - 01:52
By Keith Gilligan
AJAX -- The former St. Francis de Sales Church building is going from the business of saving souls to probably being used to putting on shows.
After more than 130 years as a church, the former St. Francis de Sales building on Church Street is going to be used for something else.
The Town has bought the building from the Toronto Archdiocese for $50,000 and will now study what to do with it, says Brian Skinner, the chief administrative officer for Ajax.
"It's an opportunity. We found out the archdiocese was planning on selling it. The local parish had no interest, no need for it. We felt it's an important heritage feature in the town," Mr. Skinner says. "It's an opportunity to retain a very important heritage feature in our community. It's space our community can use and need.
"There's no doubt it's the most striking landmark we have in our town."
The 4,000-square-foot building was built in 1871 and has a number of High Victorian Gothic church architectural features. There's an octagonal spire, Gothic stained glass windows which bear the names of some of the early founding families, and a steeply pitched roof with three rose-coloured trefoil window dormers.
It hasn't been used for religious services in a few years, as the congregation had outgrown the building. A new St. Francis de Sales Church was built on Ravenscroft Road.
The old building was designated a heritage building in 1999 and the Town fought the archdiocese to preserve the structure.
The Town's fear is deterioration caused by the building being left standing and not being used, he states.
If the Town hadn't stepped in, "at some future point in the not too distant future, we'd see a demolition request for it."
The $50,000 is "a good price. There will be some capital improvements needed to sustain the church."
Money will be included in the capital budget to consider upgrades.
The building has a capacity of about 300 people and, as for how the Town will use it, Mr. Skinner states, "It definitely lends itself to arts and culture venues. It's quite fitting for theatre, arts and culture."
A "definite use" hasn't been determined and will only be known once the Town has studied different options, he notes. "It will be a multi-purpose use."
The Town is going to have a structural review completed to identify short and long-term repair and maintenance costs. The review will also outline the costs to retrofit the building and to make it fully accessible.
The purchase only includes the building and not the parking lot, he says.
"We're entering into an agreement with the Catholic school board for use of the parking lot. They're willing to assist us use that space," Mr. Skinner notes.
The building would be used on evening and weekends, he says. "Basically, when the school is not used."
The Town is also exploring various funding options to help cut restoration costs, such as private and community partnerships, as well as sponsorships. Anyone with a fundraising suggestion or idea can call 905-619-2529, ext. 335, or e-mail info@townofajax.com.
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