The needs of the church and community have changed through the years and the Fenmont Center has gone through several renovations. According to Father Michael Pucke, at one time St. Stephen’s Elementary School was located there. The swimming pool is now covered by the floor of one of the social halls and the building is not up to current standards for handicap accessibility.
So the church, now St. Julie Billiart, is embarking on a $500,000 capital campaign to prepare the Fenmont Center and other parts of the church campus for the next 25 years and beyond.
“When the Fenmont Center turned 80, we started looking at the needs of the building,” said Beth Morehouse-Race, who is heading up the campaign. “But two years ago was not the best time for the economy, and that gave us time to look at the rest of our buildings.”
Phase I of the campaign should take about three years to complete, she said. Work on the Fenmont Center would include creating a new handicapped accessible entrance facing Buckeye Street, creating new rest rooms, restoring historic terrazzo floors, replacing classroom floors and reconfiguring the parking area to create 18 additional spaces.
The plan includes improving the space in the Fenmont to accommodate the church’s growing religious education program.
“The Religious Education program has more than tripled over the last six years,” said program director Alison Smith. “We are now helping the parents of 204 children learn more about Jesus and their Catholic faith. Space is becoming a big issue as every inch of the Fenmont is full on Sunday mornings and our class sizes keep growing.”
The church itself will also have its rest rooms renovated and have stained glass window coverings replaced. At least three of the stained glass windows need to be re-leaded due to water damage, Race said.
The office building next door will also see repairs on the roof, gutters and porch as well as a paint job inside and out.
So far, the church has raised $168,970 for the project, and will hold “Pledge Sunday” this week to give a boost toward the half-million goal.
Design work for the project is being done by SHP Leading Design, whose founder Frederick Mueller did the original architectural designs for the Fenmont Center and the firm has handled all subsequent renovations.
“Urban churches still have a role to huge role to play in the social focus of downtowns and cities,” said architect Mike Dingeldein of the Hamilton office of SHP. “This city is blessed with more than a dozen significant church edifices and this one is the most significant, the finest church in a city of many fine churches.”
Pucke said that the charge to SHP was to look ahead 25 years and to adapt the building to future needs, and the congregation is “excited and nervous” about the renovation.
“We’re looking forward in a way we haven’t looked forward in while,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.
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