St. Edmond

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• Assumption is going to close simply becasue the diocese does not care. Plain and simple.

  To bad though - More Windsor history will be lost. I'm sure the University of Windsor will be happy to get the land for more parking.

• While the diocese and idiot Bishop might choose to close Assumption, as they will learn (as they did in Lakeshore) that demolition isn't as easy as they would like.

  The building was designated in 1978 under the Ontario Heritage Act, which now prevents demolition outright. Until a few years ago, the old act only delayed demolition for 60 days. That's the reason why we lost Glengarda.

  Also in 1985 in excahnge for a shit load of cash from the Ontario Heritage Trust, a "heritage easement" was registered against the church. That easement lasts for 99 years, and is in force until 2084.

  Basically while the Designation protects the heritage elements on the exterior, the easement also contains interior elements.

  http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_1_8906_1.html

  That would prevent the diocese from removing these elements from the building even if they closed it. That way they couldn't remove the interior elements like they usually do when they close churches.

• ME> If you can figure out how sprawl is against the teaching's of Jesus, it may be one of the more powerful weapons against it.

• The rumor is that they will close the church, place a fence around the building, and the Diocese will rent the parking lots to the U of W, that way they will still make some profit as Assumption crumbles to the ground.

  its sad - But very much could be a reality...Anything is possible with this Bishop at the helm of the Diocese........

• The bishop probably doesn't have $10 million under his bishop hat. Nor did he ask to be put in charge of a diocese with a 150 year old church in Windsor falling apart - partly owing to neglect and poor renovation methods going decades back. I'm sure he doesn't lie awake at night wringing his hands together in glee at the thought this church may be at the end of its rope. Most of the comments directed at him are unfair and based on hangups with the Catholic church, not the realities facing the church - and all churches - these days. George hit the nail on that one. And Shawn took care of the rest excellently so I'll leave it at that.

• John - True, but Fabbro's still an asshat.

  Keep in mind that the funds spent in 1985 fixed the church up. Most of the current problems that are now going to cost 9 million dollars are a result of the lack of general maintence over the last 22 years, not because the building is 150+ years old.

• Unfortunately the '80s reparations weren't done correctly though, Andrew. They bought a little time but that's all. The parking lot didn't start slanting toward the church 22 years ago either. Water is cruel.

• This has nothing to do with the parking lot and everything to do with the PRIORITIES OF THE DIOCESE. The diocese has mismanaged the relatively small renovations from the get-go. That is a fact that they have admitted to. Case in point the prototype work done on the west side was originally estimated at $75,000 but balloned to over $250,000! This was NEVER communicated to the parish yet the work was allowed to continue.
  Interesting that the diocese doesn't have topay for it so might as well either ignore it or allow the budget to balloon so that they can close the parish.
  Lets face it, Fabbro and "friends" do most of their work as decisions have been made well before any reports are do back. That too is a fact.

  Windsor has lost almost 40% of the RC church structures in this area regardless of those who attend. Yet London keeps most of theirs with the same amount of attendance.

  As for sprawl being against Jesus' teachings. One word sums it up nicely. Greed. Greed from individuals, greed from developers and greed from the city that only looks at what it has in it's wallet today. What abot intensification of neighbourhods? What about rehabing existing buildings instead of building newer ones further and further out of the city when we can't afford what infrastructure we have already?

• Can someone explain to me why these repairs would cost $9 million? The price tag sounds a little excessive for a building that size. How much are these handymen billing at? $1,000 an hour??

  Isn't there another option. A couple years ago, my brother used his vacation time and his own savings to fly down to the Ukraine to help build an Anglican church with a bunch of other volunteers and they completed it and they never got paid a cent like Habit for Humanity projects. They just did it out of a sense of volunteerism. Why can't volunteer craftsman donate their time to do these repairs? I'm just not understanding what's going on here?!

• David - This is info i copied from the Save Assumption Facebook group.

  COSTS:

  -For east and west walls of the church …$3.6 million
  -For the bell tower and the sanctuary (altar area)…$1.8 million

  Other projects that have to be done - but not urgent in nature - include…
  -A new roof on the church.
  -The complete demolition and rebuilding of the Sacristy building.
  -New heating pipes installed under the church.
  -Removal of parking lights off the side of the church, as the rust from them causes damage to the building. They need to be on free standing poles.
  -New fire system.
  -Repairs to the plaster and paintings inside where water has leaked in.
  -Other smaller repairs needed to church, chapel and hall.

  …These costs bring the total amount of the restoration to $9.8 million dollars.