SALEM — The Massachusetts Historical Commission has found that the proposed demolition of St. Joseph Church and a nearby convent would have an "adverse impact" on the former church property, a site it says is eligible for listing in the state and national registers of historic places.
Mass Historic also said that any potential developers should resolve an urban legend: whether a large statue of St. Joseph is buried on the site and whether it "can be preserved in place." The statue is from the original St. Joseph Church that burned in 1914 and is rumored to be buried under the church parking lot.
The opinion by the state agency comes as a developer closely tied to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is working on a proposal to demolish the church and convent and to build 65 affordable apartments in the former St. Joseph School and in a new building it would construct along Lafayette Street. It also plans to lease retail space on the ground floor of the new structure.
The fate of the former church rectory has not been decided.
While an adverse impact opinion by Mass Historic is nonbinding and not uncommon, the determination will require the developer to explore ways to avoid demolition or, at the least, force it to offset the impact from the loss of the two buildings.
The opinion was greeted as good news by a group of city residents who have filed lawsuits opposing the project.
"I think it's a very welcome development," said John Carr, the Salem attorney who represents about two dozen neighbors and landlords. "It confirms what we maintained all along — that the church is of primary significance to that location. And, further, I see no reason why the church could not be integrated into the reuse of the site."
The 2-acre church property is owned by the Planning Office for Urban Affairs of Boston, an offshoot of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The Planning Office bought the site after the church closed in 2004 and has been trying unsuccessfully to develop it for the past four years.
An official at the Planning Office said this ruling should not slow down the project, but it will trigger a series of meetings with the state agency and other interested parties to review options.
"We don't see the adverse impact ruling as something negative, but just a common recognition between us and the state that we're making a change at the site," said Molly Ekerdt, the project manager.
"It's a common ruling, so we definitely understand it and understand the process. ... We've been through it before."
The Massachusetts Historical Commission was asked for an opinion because the developer is seeking public funds to build the housing. Last month, the Planning Office submitted a request for $3.1 million in federal funds to convert the former school to 20 apartments for the elderly.
The state agency also said that the design of any development on this site must be "compatible" with historic architecture in the area.
On the matter of the statue, the MHC recommended any developer conduct "archaeological reconnaissance and historical research" to determine its whereabouts.
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