Commissioned by housing developers, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, upon their purchase of the c.1906 St. Casimir’s School and adjacent c.1924 St. Casimir’s Convent, Landmark Consulting provided the research services and technical assistance to nominate this historic district, which included the four parish buildings – St. Casimir’s Church, Rectory, School and Convent which had been the center of an immigrant Polish community from the late 19th century through the closing of the church and school by 2009. These four structures were each designed by prominent architects of the region and era of their construction with extensive portfolios of religious and institutional structures. The Church and Rectory at 320 and 324 Sheridan Avenue were constructed in the late 1890s reflecting the aesthetic of late Victorian and Gothic Revival architecture. As the parish grew, a school as the center of teaching Polish customs, language and tradition was needed and by 1911 had a full enrollment of neighborhood children instructed by the Sisters of the Resurrection. This school building was also designed to serve as the main community social center with assembly space and bowling alleys. In 1924, with high enrollment and the need for more Sisters to provide instruction, the penthouse residences was no longer sufficient and a convent, designed by prominent Albany architects Odgen & Gander, was built directly next door and housed twelve Sisters.
The period of significance for the Historic District begins with the construction year of the church and rectory. Although the Roman Catholic Polish parish had been established by the diocese in 1893, they first purchased land on Sheridan Avenue and started construction on their parish church in 1896. Previous to this date they had worshiped in other diocesan spaces around the city. The period of significance spans to 1967 covering the dates of the parish’s expansion through the construction of the parish school and convent, as well as the enlargement of the school’s enrollment capacity through the 1960s renovation. With the district designated and listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, these four buildings will see renewed life for new functions in the 21st century as a result of being certified to participate in the State and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit program.
Landmark Consulting is also the lead architect for the substantial rehabilitation project of the school and convent. The school will return to its original mixed-use function with community gathering spaces in the basement level with a dining room, full service kitchen, meditation room, lounge space, lockers, and restrooms and showers for homeless patrons. The first floor classrooms will be converted into food and clothing pantries, a Life Skills Classroom, and organizational offices. The second floor classrooms will be sensitively converted into five one-bedroom apartments retaining the character and finishes of the early 20th century classrooms. The convent will be converted to mixed use with food pantry storage in the basement spaces, a health and wellness center on first floor, and office space on second floor. Each building will be fully handicapped (ADA) accessible with the sensitive introduction of exterior ramps and interior elevators. These two rehabilitation projects are funded by the generous support of corporate sponsors (Hoffman Family foundation), and State grants from Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP) and DASNY’s Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program (NICIP).
Download the National Register of Historic Places nomination for St. Casimir’s.