Dear Friends,
At all Masses this past weekend we announced some good news: our parish has officially sold the Cramer Building! The new owner is Aaron Matter of Matter Development, who is committed to preserving the historic character of the building’s exterior.
This sale is the answer to many prayers and brings to a close more than 30 years of debate and concern about this aging structure. Many of you know the long history of the Cramer Building, located just south of the church. The building desperately needed repairs that were estimated to cost almost $4 million, but the parish lacked the financial resources for the project. Demolishing the building, another option under consideration, had a price tag of $600,000, which would have emptied our parish coffers.
Fr. Tim and the Cramer Building Committee decided in 2017 that selling the building was the most financially responsible option for the parish. Our committee has worked diligently over the last five years to find an appropriate buyer. We were pleased to sell the Cramer Building for $200,000, and are satisfied that Aaron Matter values this historic property and understands the limitations of a structure located in a residential neighborhood, tucked between our church and Catholic East Elementary.
One of the best parts of this sale is that it allows us–finally–to begin making plans to renovate the Church Center on the lower level of the church. We are a long way from finalizing the plans, but our goals include expanding the space and making it accessible. We look forward to sharing news as these plans evolve.
We are also happy to share that the sisters who lived in the convent on the Saints Peter and Paul campus recently moved to Trinity Woods at Mount Mary University. They report that they are very happy there. In the coming months the convent will begin a new life as the Ministry Center, housing programs including, but not limited to, Beacon Moms, Bacon Dads, and the SPRED program.
We are relieved to be entering this new phase for Saints Peter and Paul Parish. Thank you for your support and input throughout this long process. Please join us in a prayer of thanksgiving for this sale and for the many people who worked on this problem over the last three decades.
If you have questions about the Cramer Building sale or the Church Center renovation, please ask any of us and visit the Saints Peter and Paul website for more information.
With relief and gratitude,
The Cramer Building Committee
Pam Dowling, Barbara Boles, Larry Burns, Alicia Manning, Jim Piatt, Jim Piotrowski, Mike Szczawinski, Matt Noe, and Jon Wallenkamp
