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
Tearing this building down instead of developing it would be insane … there’s no way a developer’s going to make more money off of some new concrete shoebox condos than they would off of something built within the existing structure.
Can we start an online petition to landmark this building? I always saw it from the outside and thought how amazing it was in the middle of this industrial area between the Burg and Clinton Hill, next to the BQE. It would be a shame to have some developer knock it down. Especially that gorgeous chapel. (No I’m not a Catholic).
I know the article said it could take $20 million to fix-up but I wonder if Pratt would be willing to purchase it for students and classrooms. It would be a complete shame to lose it and the chapel interior is fantastic.
Not really heavy metal, morelike early goth.
OK, I just had a minute to look at the slideshow in the Times article. The chapel is a masterpiece! The courtyard, with the Juliette balconies is beautiful. Tearing this down for a bland, modern, condobox would be a SIN.
This building should be preserved, no ifs, ands or buts.
I went into the complex a fews years ago for am anniversary of Pratt’s chaplain (I’m an alumni). The interior ‘courtyard’ is really nice. It was finally great to be inside the building that I used to view from the 9th floor of Willoughby dorm for 5 years. I hope greed doesn’t come a knockin…
“Oh, the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone.”
The grotto at Vincentian Institute still has its original cork floors. I bet that chapel here is a gem, MM
I thought Sisters of Mercy were a heavey metal band.
Great building.