The Sacred Heart Parish property is a complex of five buildings, including an old and new school, church, rectory and convent.
The dates of construction range from 1899 for the old school to 1925 for the new school and 1916 & 1934 for the church building. The complex is located in the South Lawrence neighborhood and their architectural styles range from Romanesque Revival to Colonial Revival. Catholicism was introduced into Lawrence in 1845 when three major mill complexes opened in the planned community of Lawrence. Many of the workers who flocked here brought Catholicism with them. Sacred Heart Parish was one of two French Canadian parishes to serve the French speaking mill workers who came from rural areas around Quebec. The Parish was closed as part of the property dispositions by the Boston Archdiocese in 2004.
Paramount Development Group in partnership with ETC Development purchased the property in 2006 and proceeded to reposition the church campus for a use that would preserve the buildings and the character of the neighborhood.
In early 2007 the Catholic Dominican Friars contacted Richard J. Derosas, Pres. Of Paramount Development Group, regarding plans to relocate their congregation to Lawrence, Mass. The Friars entered a long term lease agreement to relocate their congregation to the church and rectory buildings. After an extensive renovation the buildings were re-occupied for their intended use.
Mr. Derosas and his partners successfully won planning board and zoning board approval for 44 elderly units to be constructed in the three remaining buildings and subsequently received an allocation of 9% LIHTC’s. Federal and Historic Credits were also secured to complete the $17 million financing package.
This successful rehabilitation of 44 elderly housing units created in the old school, convent and new school, with underground parking in the church basement has provided much needed affordable senior housing. This rehabilitation is a viable re-use of an entire parish complex that has returned housing and taxable commercial space to the city of Lawrence. The Parish complex is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
