KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A dome structure and other parts of the former Nazareth College motherhouse have been removed as demolition work moves forward.
On Monday, crews began lifting the cupola adorning the top of the Sisters of St. Joseph motherhouse on the former campus. It now sits nearby as construction workers began efforts to tear down the building after sitting in limbo for decades.
After plans for demolition were approved in April, the Sisters of St. Joseph motherhouse and four other buildings are finally in the process of coming down.
Since closing down in 1992, the site of the former catholic college on Kalamazoo’s northeast side has laid vacant as city leaders pondered what they should do with former buildings. In recent years there was a push to designate the campus a historical site to preserve existing infrastructure not already demolished.
The sister’s of St. Joseph, which own the property, announced in 2015 that they planned on atleast partially demolishing several buildings on the 394,000 square foot site. The group cited the excessive costs of maintaining the unused property as the reason behind the move.
A local group of citizens and former alumni called “Save Nazareth” has been busy pushing public sentiment in the city toward preserving much of the former campus, especially the iconic motherhouse building.
In April, a demolition plan was submitted to the Kalamazoo Planning Commission that planned for the dismantling of the motherhouse, chapel, and Transformations Spirituality Center all located near the property’s east side.
The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo says that certain historically significant relics of the facility will be preserved and transferred to them, including the “Holy Stairs”, a 28-step path that is modeled after a similar staircase in Rome and represents the steps Jesus took before his crucifixtion.
Former dormitory buildings on the west side of the property were previously demolished in October.
