Church's growth is given a boost

AIKEN --- A local church's expansion efforts received a push Monday night as the city council voted to remove the building's landmark status.

The council voted 6-1 to amend on second reading an ordinance regarding the definition of demolition and an ordinance removing the landmark designation of St. Mary Help of Christians Church, with the exception of the Chapel of St. Claire's.

The landmark status -- designated in 1993 -- had stymied St. Mary's plans to expand the 102-year-old church building to accommodate its growing congregation.

The zoning ordinance prohibited the Design Review Board from considering the complete or partial demolition of a landmark, but the council's decision to amend the definition of demolition and to remove the historic designation allows St. Mary to present its expansion plans to the board.

Bill Tucker, an attorney representing the church, urged the council to remove the landmark designation, calling it the "cleanest way" St. Mary can have its day before the Design Review Board.

The council approved changing the demolition ordinance to apply to the complete removal of any structure. The exterior changes still must be approved by the Design Review Board.

The church is in the downtown overlay district, where all exterior changes must be board-approved.

The church building, with just 300 seats, has an average attendance of 2,100 at five Masses on Saturday and Sunday.

The church's plans call for removing the rectory, colonnade, parish hall and a two-car garage, which would add 1,200 seats.

Councilman Don Wells said that the best way to preserve the church is to "allow them to expand so they can get to worship in the main building."

In November, the Design Review board voted not to remove the church as a landmark.

But at a December meeting, the planning commission disagreed and voted unanimously to recommend that St. Mary's landmark designation be removed.

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.