Time runs out, salvage operation starts at house St. Mary targeted for demolition in 2018
Diocese makes the move seven years after demolition plan was met with protest, gives Wabash Valley Trust time to save architectural features. Plus, what to know before the Christmas Parade.
Support for this edition comes from Purdue Musical Organizations, presenting the 92nd annual Purdue Christmas Show. It’s here. The Christmas Show will shine Boilermaker bright with an all-student cast, festive music and dazzling performances. Tickets are now on sale for the Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7, shows, where audiences of all ages will come together to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season at this timeless Purdue tradition. Get your tickets here.
Thanks also for ongoing support from Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For tickets and details on all the shows and events, go to longpac.org.
TIME RUNS OUT, SALVAGE OPERATION STARTS AT HOUSE ST. MARY TARGETED FOR DEMOLITION IN 2018
Limestone architectural features were being stripped and salvaged this week from the façade of a 19th century home near the base of the St. Mary neighborhood, as the Lafayette Diocese signaled time’s up on a house that neighbors, the city and historic preservation fans had been trying to save since 2018.
Efforts that continued into recent months weren’t enough to save the whole structure and move it to a new home across the street, city officials said, as the diocese looked to clear the lot and other parts of the block for future uses.
“When it was clear that moving the house was not going to happen and demolition was inevitable, we worked on the next best thing and began salvage operations to make sure many of the home’s features continued to grace our Old City,” Sean Lutes, who was coordinating the salvage work this week through the Wabash Valley Trust for Historic Preservation, said.
“I’m not happy about the demolition, but I’m also not going to let perfect be the enemy of the good when we were given a real opportunity to salvage much of the home’s historic fabric,” Lutes said. “Fireplaces, staircases, doors, windows, interior shutters, chandeliers, porch woodwork, sinks, even mechanicals were able to be salvaged and given new life.”
Rachel Witt, with St. Mary Cathedral, said the diocese recently purchased property on 10th Street, around the corner, after the rental house there was gutted by a January 2025 fire. The city’s board of works approved a demolition permit for that structure in October, waiving a customary 60-day waiting period after Lafayette Fire Chief Brian Alkire lobbied to allow it to come down sooner than that, because the house continued to attract squatters and “poses a clear threat to public health and safety.”
Witt said that in an effort to control costs for demolition, the diocese decided to go ahead with the demolition that had been on hold since 2018 for the home and carriage house at 1014 South St., too.
“The costs to restore it were really excessive,” Witt said. “We did pause to allow local community members the time to determine if moving it was at all feasible and would have donated the house if they could work it out.”
Dennis Carson, Lafayette’s economic development director, said the city and Indiana Landmarks – which had included the church-owned property on its statewide 10 Most Endangered structures list in 2020 and 2021 – tried to save it. But he said it “became prohibitively expensive.”
Carson said the estimate to move the house onto a vacant lot across the street was $130,000. He said on top of that, the hillside of the lot across the street would have needed excavation, which was another $50,000. He said temporary removal of utility lines for the move was a minimum of $100,000.
“This does not include any site work, foundation and renovation of the house itself,” Carson said.
Those ideas had been floated in 2018, after the diocese first put a yellow demolition permit application notice on the iron fence surrounding the house the church had owned since 2000.
Neighbors presented the city with a petition with more than 1,000 signatures in November 2018 and nearby landowners offered a landing spot for the house, as they protested the church’s pending move and challenged the church to step up maintenance. The board of works, in that case, approved the 60-day waiting period but told neighbors the city didn’t have control over potential demolition beyond that.
Indiana Landmarks gave this description of the property with its 10 Most Endangered structure status in 2021: “Built (circa) 1884 for Susannah Falley, wife and business partner of hardware merchant James B. Falley, the home served as a single-family residence for decades before being subdivided into apartments. Though it shows signs of deferred maintenance, the landmark retains handsome details, including limestone door and window surrounds featuring a carved floral motif.”
The diocese had been quiet publicly since that 60-day waiting period passed.
Witt said the diocese owns the rest of the block, aside from the neighboring Northside Music property along South Street. She said there are no firm plans about what would go at that corner or at the 10th Street house recently demolished. She said the properties would be greenspaces for now, with no timeline for anything more.
“As of right now, anything we would do on that block would require fundraising,” Witt said. “There is not a plan beyond getting it cleaned up, safe and stabilized for the neighborhood and then to figure out what is needed and will have financial support in that space.”
Witt said the once it was clear the house wouldn’t be moved, the diocese worked with the city and with Lutes on a salvage project. She said Lutes lined up crews to get the limestone and other features. The church, she said, paid to remove the iron fence so it could be reused by another local homeowner in a restoration project.
“We stalled the demo for as long as possible to give them time to work,” Witt said. “No one likes to take down a building, but the partnership to make the most of the situation has really been remarkable.”
Carson and Lutes said it wasn’t clear how features from the house would be used.
“While we wish the outcome were different, we are not blind to the fact that the diocese was under no obligation to let us do salvage work,” Lutes said. “So while on one hand there is the sting of this loss, we also appreciate the trust and opportunity to save what we can, when otherwise it would go to the landfill.”
TODAY’S THE DAY TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASED IN LAFAYETTE REPORTING PROJECT. HERE ARE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL OPTIONS …
GREATER LAFAYETTE CHRISTMAS PARADE: IF YOU GO
Looking to go to the Greater Lafayette Christmas Parade Saturday? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
What time: The parade starts at 5 p.m.
The route: The parade reverses course this year, moving up Main Street from Second Steet to 11th Street. The route changed this year to allow nearly 200 entries to line up on Third and Fourth streets. “It also helps keep more streets open in the east end neighborhoods parallel to Main Street, making it easier for residents and visitors to move through the downtown area while still enjoying one of our community’s favorite holiday traditions,” Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said.
The theme: “Christmases Past, Present, Future.”
Parking: Street parking is available south of Main Street. Public garages at Columbia Street and Fifth Street and the Lafayette Public Safety Center on Seventh Street will be open.
Restrooms: Portable restrooms will be available at Seventh and Main streets and on Fifth Street across from the Knickerbocker Saloon.
Livestream: Not ready to be among the estimated 20,000 people who will be along the route? Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Facebook page will have a livestream here, with Raeco Realty’s Josh Shives and Grant Thompson hosting.
Street closures: According to Lafayette police, these restrictions will be in place Saturday:
Second Street from Columbia Street to Ferry Street: No parking on either side of the street; closed to traffic from noon to 8 p.m.
Third Street from Ferry Street to North Ninth Street: No parking on either side of the street; closed to traffic from noon to 8 p.m.
Fourth Street from Ferry Street to North Ninth Street: No parking on either side of the street; closed to traffic from noon to 8 p.m.
Fannon Drive from Salem Street to North Ninth Street: No parking on either side of the street; closed to traffic from noon to 8 p.m.
Ferry Street from Second Street to Fourth Street: Closed to traffic from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Main Street from Second Street to Perrin Avenue: No parking; vehicles will be removed by 3 p.m. Saturday; closed to traffic from 1-8 p.m.
Ferry Street from Fifth to 11th streets: closed to traffic from 3- 8 p.m.
Fourth and Ninth streets, Columbia to Ferry streets: closed to traffic from 4:30- 8 p.m.
BUILDING BiL HOLIDAY PLAYLIST: WHAT’S ON YOURS?
Through Christmas, BiL will curate three songs a day from readers. The assignment isn’t necessarily about the best or most iconic songs of the season. Just songs that you’d want in the mix and why they belong. Enjoy.
Matt Lapcheska
A local reader of BiL, a bit of an audiophile and member of the Lafayette Master Chorale.
“Christmas In Hollis,” Run-DMC – I like watching Die Hard Christmas Eve.
“Christmas At Ground Zero,” Weird Al Yankovic – While I am active in the Lafayette Master Chorale, I do love completely demented secular Christmas music. Here’s a Weird Al piece.
“NYC Winter,” Rockapella – I also think Rockapella has a couple good and somewhat more sensible Christmas tunes. This is from the “Out Cold” album.
Your turn
What three songs are going into your holiday/seasonal playlist this year? If you’re game share, here’s all we need:
Three songs and the artists.
One or two sentences about why you chose each one – could be a memory or a short history or review about why that track belongs in your mix and why you’d recommend it to others.
A little bit about you to let readers know who’s making the picks.
Send to: davebangert1@gmail.com
Thanks, again, for support from the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For tickets and details on all the shows and events, go to longpac.org.
Thanks, also, for support from Purdue Musical Organizations, presenting the 92nd annual Purdue Christmas Show Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7. Get your tickets here.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
The houses were demolished with no plans for rebuilding? That’s the first I’d heard that. I always thought they were “in the way of something better” in the eyes of St. Mary’s. Makes it especially difficult to understand, considering the corner house was in good condition other than the usual (and oftentimes strategic) deferred maintenance.
So the diocese tore down an historic house for no reason other than they could ? Wow.