The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, shuttered and fenced off in a busy downtown block, can be demolished, the Burlington Development Review Board decided Wednesday night.
The board voted 4-2 to approve the demolition permit, but its decision may be appealed.
John Caulo, who is working on behalf of the Catholic parish, said in an email Thursday that he was pleased with the outcome, and the decision “correctly recognized the Freedom of Religion aspects of the application.”
But, Caulo continued, “given the level of emotion associated with this application, we would not be surprised if an appeal is filed. We need to wait and see.”
Devin Colman, a Burlington resident and a member of Preservation Burlington, said Thursday that the local historic preservation group is waiting to see the development review board’s final written decision before planning next steps.
According to Scott Gustin, from the city’s permitting and inspections department, the decision won’t be official until the board writes it up and signs it. That is expected to occur in the coming days.
The property at 20 Pine St. is currently under contract to be sold, according to the Catholic parish that oversees the building. The commercial real estate firm Donahue and Associates listed the 2.2-acre property for sale at $8.5 million.
Monsignor Peter Routhier, of Burlington’s Cathedral of St. Joseph, which merged with the Pine Street cathedral in 2018, wrote in the demolition permit application that the buyer, which the parish has not named, would likely pursue “redevelopment of the property.”
In comments at Wednesday’s hearing, Routhier made the case that the deconsecrated church should be demolished rather than repurposed. Routhier has said the Catholic parish considers the removal of former churches to be part of a “healing” process following a closure. A Catholic parish in Winooski has taken a similar stance with St. Stephen, a closed church in that city. St. Francis Xavier Parish in charge of that church is applying to demolish it before selling the property.
The turnout at Wednesday’s hearing was so large that some attendees had to wait in the lobby of the Department of Public Works building. Of the 15 members of the public who spoke, only one expressed support for demolishing the cathedral.
In his remarks, Colman criticized the Catholic parish and potential buyers.
“I think it’s really important to acknowledge what’s really going on here, which is that an unnamed developer, who hasn’t revealed any development plans, is doing this as an end run around our zoning ordinance,” Colman said.
Much of the debate has centered on the application of a state law that limits the authority of municipalities when it comes to religious buildings. Those pushing for the cathedral’s demolition argue that, despite being deconsecrated, it remains a religious building, protected under state law.
Colman and other historic preservation advocates sought to make the case that the building shouldn’t be eligible for that protection, as it is no longer being used as a church.
“The building’s not being used as a church, has not been used as such for four years. The altar has been removed. There is no altar in this building. They cannot hold Mass there. Other interior features are for sale at local salvage shops,” Colman said.
At the hearing, Caulo, following the public comments, argued that though Mass isn’t being celebrated in the building, it remains a “place of worship.”
“This is the church’s decision and the church’s decision only,” Caulo said. “We may not agree with it. We may not understand it. But I think we have to respect it.”