Willoughby Avenue Convent Closing, Future Uncertain
Holy cow! The Sisters of Mercy Convent at 265 Willoughby Avenue in Clinton Hill is closing after 146 years as a home to nuns devoted to working with the sick and the poor; the convent is facing $20 million in renovations. As for the future of the property? “Selling the convent could help raise even…
Holy cow! The Sisters of Mercy Convent at 265 Willoughby Avenue in Clinton Hill is closing after 146 years as a home to nuns devoted to working with the sick and the poor; the convent is facing $20 million in renovations. As for the future of the property? “Selling the convent could help raise even more money for their mission, Sister McCann said, but no decision has been reached. Though the building is not a landmark — giving wide leeway for any new owners to develop or demolish the property — some nuns said they hoped they could still return to the chapel on special occasions.” Yikes! LPC, where are ya?
After 146 Years, a Brooklyn Convent Is Closing [NY Times] GMAP P*Shark
At a Brooklyn Convent, a Season of Heartbreak [City Room]
Photo from PropertyShark
My mother went to nursing school taught by the sisters of Mercy in the 1940s and lived in this convent/residence with other nursing students. We drove past it the other day and she was surprised that it was so close to me. It is beautiful. I kind of like the idea of converting it to condos and keeping the convent signs up, like the Graham House for old ladies.
Hello All,
I’ve posted a free online petition to the Landmarks Preservation Commission asking them to landmark the Sisters of Mercy Convent. Take a look, please sign, and send it along! Thanks.
http://www.petitiononline.com/convent/petition.html
LANDMARK! Quick! Fourtune teller: i see another high rise, about twenty stories high, floor to ceiling glass windows, underground parking garage. Oh yes I see…..money….lot’s of money……
Bessie, the Angel Guardian location is linked with the Catherine McAuley Convent where a number of Sisters still live. Catholic Charities, a senior center, a Montessori school and some social work offices are located at the Catherine McAuley Convent as well. That property is the entire block and is not going anywhere. The Sisters will continue to have a presence in Brooklyn there.
All,
Catherine McAuley founded the order in 1831 in Dublin and is on the Irish 5 pound note. The order came to Brooklyn very early in its history. The MotherHouse (Convent of Mercy) should be on the National Register of Historic Places. If this were Boston, I would bet the MotherHouse could be saved by local public support.
The MotherHouse has been the home of thousands and thousands of orphans. There is an alumni group for these (adult) children. There is a website for them. It was also a day school at the same time as well as later after the orphanage was closed when the fostercare system was created. Those into NYC history may know the full story of this, when the City closed the ophanages..was it the early 70’s or the late 60’s…can’t remember.
I was very upset when the order had to decide, after a structural evaluation as well as a review of code issues, that the repairs and changes would be too costly and that the resident Sisters would be relocated.
I am very much hoping Pratt might step up to the plate since the convent is at Willoughby and Classon literally facing the campus.
If I had the money I would absolutely fund the costs to preserve this building for the Sisters. I am glad the NYTimes finally did a big spread on this so there is an awareness of this.
Not that this is parallel but, the Pfizer mansion and first factory in Brooklyn are for sale or already sold by the company after they held onto them through thick and thin. There is a sad karma that surrounds this kind of thing for me.
I read the “official” history of the Steinways last year. It was very interesting. I think there was an article on the Steinway mansion and the man who who currently owns it in the NYTimes not too long ago.
I would get involved in any neighborhood/Brooklyn effort to save the Convent. I hope this website stays on this. Please.
good for you, limestonekid! Let us know if you hear back.
I contacted the Historic Preservation program at Pratt Institute in order to make them aware of this travesty that is going on right in their back yard.
Who knows what, if anything, they can do but to me it seems like a property that is a prime candidate for landmark status.
Countash! We used to endlessly bike around this place in the summer in hopes of finding some nun that will show us the inside. Amazing place that reminds us of Hausmanian buildings only in beautiful red brick this time around. LPC please move on this one pronto. Even Poley is on board on this one for this architectural marvel speaks for itself.
BTW Poley did you rethink your stance on that little homeless problem?? Trop drole:)
Brilliant idea Cobblegirl on the petition thing.
MM that chapel is indeed a masterpiece: Absolument fromidable!
Sam we understand what you are saying but it can still be done profitably if the will is there and greed is not overwhelming: like someone else pointed out the former convent on Washington ave in CH, Apple Bank on the UWS, One Hanson Place, and the Police Building in Chinatown / Little Italy are all prime examples.
It would be a wonderful locaton for a primary school. This neighborhood and the surrounding ones are already in stroller gridlock. In just a few short years, there won’t be enough room in either public OR private area schools to serve the new families. Just on Flatbush between Tillary and Dekalb there’s enough anticipated new population to serve a couple of good sized new schools.
While I sort of doubt the DOE would renovate an existing building for a new school, private individuals might.
Pratt, I fear, won’t find a budget for this. They’re moving too fast renovating all of the Steuben St. housing they have on campus already. Plus they have new construction on Myrtle.
Something this beautiful is worth fighting for. What’s the alternative- another piece of boring, poorly designed and constructed crap.