LYNN — St. Michael’s Church, which dates back more than 110 years and has been vacant for more than a decade, will see life again as a condominium building.
Plans for the $3 million project include 20, two- and three-bedroom condos with more than one parking spot for each. Four units will be in the rectory, eight in the school, and eight in the church, said developer David Cutler.
The Archdiocese of Boston included the West Lynn church on a 2004 list of churches slated for closing, as part of an Archdiocese-wide reorganization. Church officials subsequently gave St. Michael’s permission to remain open through 2006 so parishioners could celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Attorney Samuel Vitali, who represented developers at a City Council meeting Tuesday night, said his clients were mindful of preserving the character of the church and old school when they drafted their plans.
In addition to maintaining the original exterior, with the exception of adding windows and doors, a plaque commemorating the neighborhood’s rich Polish history will be installed.
City Councilor Jay Walsh said the plan isn’t the first that has been presented to him for redeveloping the property in recent years, but it’s the only one that included preserving the history of the site.
“I was an altar boy in the church for a long time and my family had a lot of history there,” said Walsh. “My grandfather on my mom’s side was Polish and they were very involved with the Polish community. My mom and dad were married in that church.”
Walsh said the neighborhood echoes the city’s need for more housing. He believes this project will build up the density of housing, without overdoing it. The condos will be marketed around $200,000 each, which he said is reasonable when compared to the housing market.
“I think there’s a need for condominiums in that area of Lynn in a price point that a working, middle class person can afford,” said Cutler.
The project will take about nine months to complete once construction begins.
