The Future of the Old Shiloh Baptist Church

During the public hearings on landmark status for 241 Columbia Street, the original house of worship for the Shiloh Baptist Church, the owner of the building repeatedly told the Historic Preservation Commission that she would sell the building if it were so designated. On August 14, the HPC voted unanimously to recommend the designation to the Common Council. A resolution declaring the building a local landmark is on the agenda for Tuesday's Council meeting and is almost certain to pass. In the meantime, it seems the building's owner has changed her mind about selling.

On Friday, the owner of the building appeared at the HPC meeting seeking a certificate of appropriateness for her plans to weatherize the building. With her was Jane Smith, of Spacesmith, who previously served as the architect member of the HPC and has been hired to work on this project.

The weatherization plans involve removing the vestibule which, cantilevered off the building and supported by pipes, is understood to have been a later addition. The vestibule was described as crumbling and not up to code. The steps from the vestibule down to the street encroach on the sidewalk. It will be recalled that a hole in the roof of this vestibule is what inspired Reverend Ed Cross to begin his campaign to save the building which resulted in its designation as a local landmark.

The weatherization plans also involve new siding, a new standing seam metal roof, and new windows, which will be of the same size and design of the original windows in the building.

On the east and west sides of the building, windows that have been missing for some time will be reinstated in their original configuration.

A new design for the entrance to the building will be the subject of a separate application.

Because the building's landmark status has not yet been confirmed by the Common Council, the HPC could not take any action regarding the weatherization plan. A vote on granting a certificate of appropriateness was postponed until the HPC's next meeting, which takes place on September 25.

The entire September 11 HPC meeting can be viewed here.
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