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Old Posted Nov 8, 2008, 12:38 AM
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Dmajackson Dmajackson is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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Not sure where to post this but...

Quote:
Motherhouse to come down
Building now empty after nuns moved into Caritas, a residence across the street
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Fri. Nov 7 - 5:50 AM


The construction of Caritas, a residence that will be home to 100 nuns, will clear the way for demolition of the Sisters of Charity’s motherhouse next year. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)



The Sisters of Charity’s motherhouse on the Bedford Highway should be levelled by next spring or summer.

"We’re dismantling it," said congregation spokeswoman Ruth Jeppesen in an interview on Thursday.

Last year, the order ended a partnership, announced in 2004, with United Gulf Developments Ltd. to build a $350-million residential-commercial development on the 28-hectare Rockingham site.

Instead, the Sisters had Shannex, owned by Cape Breton businessman Joe Shannon, build a six-storey building across the street from the 350,000-square- foot motherhouse complex.

The new building houses an administration and archive centre on the main floor and has a five-floor retirement residence that will be home to 100 nuns, said Ms. Jeppesen.

Shannex, which builds and operates continuing care residences, will manage the Caritas — Latin for charity — residence for the order.

Ms. Jeppersen said retired nuns began moving into the new residence in the past few days and the motherhouse is now empty.

Dexter Construction has been contracted to demolish the motherhouse complex, beginning in mid-December, but Ms. Jeppesen said every effort has been made to salvage as much of the venerable building and its contents as possible.

"People are relieved that new homes have been found for things," she said, including the congregation’s large Casavant pipe organ, which has been donated to the St. Agnes parish in Halifax.

Other items, including stained glass and pews, have been donated to the Sacred Heart School and to the St. Benedict parish in Halifax.

Original seating from the motherhouse’s 800-seat auditorium, which once hosted a concert by Celine Dion, has been donated to the Dartmouth Players, the Evergreen Theatre in Margaretsville and to the Yarmouth Regional Arts Council, said Ms. Jeppesen.

"It had a lot of great shows," she said, adding that the order plans to stage two auctions at the motherhouse this month.

A commercial auction of items such as kitchen appliances and dining room furniture will be held on Nov. 20, while an auction of antiques, silver, china, small stained glass pieces, a piano, other musical instruments and a chandelier will be held on Nov. 22.

Ms. Jeppesen said the order is still considering what to do with the motherhouse property once the building in gone.

"The intention was it would eventually be sold," she said of the prime chunk of Halifax real estate, which has attracted the interest of a number of real estate developers over the years.

Ms. Jeppesen noted that the Sisters will be living adjacent to any new development on the property and want something built there that is in line with their values and principles.

"They want respect for the environment and for their neighbours," she said, adding that the congregation hasn’t approached anyone about developing the motherhouse lands.
I've got to say things are looking great for United Gulf Inc these days. First this, the project problems in Bedford, YMCA Towers in Dartmouth, and the TexPark Towers downtown. Right now all they really have going in their advantage is the W (?) and Waterton Towers.
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