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cathedral to redevelop its neighborhood plans senior housing

The Cathedral of St. Peter Parish announced a neighborhood redevelopment project that will create a new senior living community near the heart of downtown Belleville. Cathedral recently purchased three buildings southeast of the parish. In addition, three properties already owned by the parish in the same block will become part of the neighborhood redevelopment.

“The intended purpose of these purchases is to demolish rundown properties to make way for new residential growth,” according to both Father John Myler, cathedral rector and Sister Theresa Markus, SSND. “We are excited to pump new life into this challenged area by creating affordable living for seniors who want to live in the city, live close to the cathedral and close to St. Elizabeth Hospital and their doctors, and yet live independently in a welcoming, safe and charming environment.”

Preliminary plans call for a city block of sixteen one or two-bedroom cottage-like independent living residences opening onto a common courtyard, not institutional in appearance, but designed to reflect the architectural influence of the area.

The parish has partnered with Celtic Creative, a consulting social enterprise of St. Patrick Center in downtown St. Louis. To make this senior living project a reality in the next 18-24 months, the Celtic Creative/ St. Patrick Center team will guide the cathedral team “every step of the way.”

To fund this project, the parish will seek both public and private funding, including tax credits, state housing trust funds, various federal opportunities and private donations. “For many decades, the Catholic Church and other faith-based groups have partnered with federal and state governments to build affordable senior housing,” says St. Patrick Center CEO Dan Buck.

Buck and the team at St. Patrick Center “bring the expertise,” Father Myler says, “and the cathedral parish will bring the commitment and the community-spirit to complete this task.”

“We know that St. Peter’s will only move forward on this proposed development with a solid sustainability plan that will include public and private support. Happily, we envision in this plan the continuing presence of the School Sisters of Notre Dame,” says Father Myler. “Assuredly, the cathedral family has already demonstrated to the people of Belleville for more than 150 years that we know how to welcome people, to maintain properties and to be a catalyst for the neighborhood.”

“There’s a long history here. This will be a new era in our parish for the benefit of the city, the neighborhood, and especially those folks who will become our new neighbors.”