St. Ann’s School burned overnight. Four alarm fire, full involvement.
This is a direct result of the City’s neglect in protecting and preserving its historic buildings. These buildings were wide open, unmonitored, as far as I can tell unregulated in the sense of inspected, cited, summoned to court.
What a preposterous waste. This building was at one time the largest parochial school in the country, with 2,000 students. Aside from the great quality and massive physical and historic investment, these buildings can and have been used for housing. Many examples, all over town.
Preservationists, of whom I am one, have been raising the alarm about St. Ann’s for years. The Diocese and Vatican just threw it away, in the usual careless, non-facing-the-consequences way they’ve been handling their excess property. And the City has not held the various new owners to account. First it was stripped, massively, then it was left open for squatters, urbexers and anyone else to enter and do mischief.