The Future Re-Use of St. William Church
The campus of the now-closed St. William Church in Columbia-Savin Hill is on the market. How do you think that key block of Dorchester Avenue should be used in the future? [234 votes total]

Religious use/church (34) 15%
Senior housing/assisted living (63) 27%
Market-rate housing (24) 10%
Commercial (20) 9%
Social services (17) 7%
Library/other public use (44) 19%
Hold off sale (15) 6%
None of the above (17) 7%


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Total Comments 3 | Start A New Comment
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Posted By: Cynthia

Posted On: Jul 28, 2006
Views: 718
Childcare center

I'm a mother of two young children and I can say that there is not enough quality childcare available in the neighbourhood. St. Williams is an ideal property for a daycare/childcare facility. There is plenty of outdoor space that is fenced in - a safe haven for young children to vent their energies. The location is perfect, on a bus route and between two T stops. This is a family neighbourhood with many young children. Let's invest in our children, the next generation.


Posted By: Liam McDermott

Posted On: Jul 20, 2006
Views: 1093
Questions

Shouldn't the Parish that literally built that church without Archdiocese funding decide what is done with the property? It seems the parish should have the final say, not a new comer onto the scene.

"Soper has stated that if the site is sold, rather than leased, he will make a decision in concert with the Blessed Mother Teresa Parish Council, but that he will be the final arbiter."

Liam McDermott
former parishioner, and altar server.


Posted By: Geoff Carens

Posted On: Jul 13, 2006
Views: 1536
Church use

As a resident of Savin Hill, I would love to see the former church in use as a library, community center, or youth center. With unemployment at about 15% nationally among people 16 to 19 (source: New York Times 7/13/06), and considering the upsurge in violent crime in Dorchester, it would be great if the church building could serve a social purpose, as opposed to a commercial one. Creating a library, community center or youth center could provide jobs, resources and activities, including for neighborhood youths. Other good options would be turning the church into affordable housing or a low-cost daycare center. Any conversion should use union labor recruited from the diverse Dorchester area.