The dilapidated and vacant St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cobleskill remains in limbo.
Slated for either demolition or restoration––opposite ends of the spectrum––the church’s future may be in the hands of the village’s Historic District Review Commission.
The Commission earlier this month heard the parish’s argument for hardship because it doesn’t have funds to restore the Elm Street church, which has slates falling off the roof, crumbling bricks, a foundation in disrepair and mold inside.
Cobleskill Codes Officer Mike Piccolo declared the church unsafe in November.
Because the 1894 church is in Cobleskill’s historic district, the Commission must approve asny demolition.
But Commission members decided earlier this month that they wanted more information. Also, Commission Chair Bob Holt said, members received the parish’s application just five days before the meeting, so they wanted more time to consider it.
“It kind of baffles me,” said Leo McAllister, who’s on St. Vincent’s finance and buildings and grounds committees. “I don’t know what more they want.”
Either way the Commission rules may be unpopular. If members deny demolition, the parish hasn’t enough money to restore it, which may cost hundreds of thousands, according to Mr. McAllister.
And if the Commission okays demolition, Cobleskill loses a landmark building that many treasure.
“This is going to be a difficult decision, maybe the most difficult Historic District has faced,” Mr. Holt said. “It’s not like an old barn that’s already falling down.
“It’s difficult emotionally. Even though it’s decommissioned as a church, it still holds memories.”
The old church has been mostly unused since the newer St. Vincent’s, adjacent on Washington Avenue, was dedicated in 1990.
Mr. McAllister surmised that church leaders then couldn’t afford to maintain both buildings.
“Hindsight’s 20/20,” said Mr. Holt, referring to whether the parish should have kept up the older church.
Mr. McAllister said St. Vincent’s committees will meet this week to discuss how to proceed.
Mr. Holt said the Commission will consider the St. Vincent’s issue at its April 3 meeting in the village office.