MONROE — Construction work could begin by the end of 2025 at Monroe’s former St. Mary Academy building.
You can learn about the project and offer ideas when the newly formed Friends of St. Mary Academy hosts an outdoor redevelopment forum and question-and-answer session from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, June 29 in front of the former SMA building on the campus of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse, 610 W. Elm Ave.
About a year ago, KM Cornerstone, owned by Newport resident Keith Masserant, entered into an option to purchase agreement with the IHM Sisters for the property. Last July, Masserant announced plans to convert the former girls boarding school into a mixed-use space that will include commercial, office and residential spaces. Built in 1932, the SMA building is 260,000 square feet. It has been vacant for about 22 years.
The former school is known for its winding marble staircase, grand ballroom with original wooden floors and marble pillars and fireplace.
“We’ll update the community. We will roll out where we are at this stage, the thinking and the planning,” said Patsy Masserant, Keith Masserant’s sister. Patsy also is general manager of the SMA project and co-chair of Friends of St. Mary Academy.
“We also want to hear from (attendees) and what they might want to share and answer any questions,” Patsy Masserant said. “We are very dedicated to making sure that this place belongs to the community and is serving their needs. We want, not just a building, but a vibrant work, live and play space everyone in the community can enjoy for years to come. We welcome any ideas.”
Patsy Masserant expects at least 100 people to attend the forum. A tent shelter, seating, water and cookies will be provided.
What will happen at the June 29 forum?
Attendees can view sketches, share feedback and learn the project’s next steps.
Remarks will begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by the question-and-answer session.
Speakers will be Keith Masserant, president of KM Cornerstone; Sister Maxine Kollasch, IHM president; and Mark Cochran, assistant city manager and director of economic and community development for the City of Monroe.
“They’ll all provide where they’re at on the project and how they see this all coming together,” Patsy Masserant said.
When could construction work start?
“We are still hoping to break ground in 2025. That is our hope, to start in some capacity by the end of this year. There are many different pieces to this puzzle,” Patsy Masserant said.
Can I tour the SMA building on June 29?
No tours will be given.
“We’ll do that in due time,” Patsy Masserant said. “Currently, the Academy is still very much a construction site. There are liability reasons why we can’t have people coming in through there.”
Who are the Friends of St. Mary Academy?
“It started in August with all different facets of folks in Monroe County who are leaders. I chair it with Mark Cochran. There are philanthropists and people from the engineering and art world who we brought together with the main goal of reimagining this space with us. We don’t just want to redevelop it. We want to reimagine it. What is best suited for the community?” Patsy Masserant said.
What has Friends of St. Mary Academy done so far?
“We’ve met several times to go over preliminary engineering and drawings and got feedback as a group. We’re getting all this flowing. Then, we met in smaller groups of four or five people. We have the most remarkable synergy,” Patsy Masserant said.
What will happen after the forum?
“We’ll take their feedback and reconvene as a full committee in July,” she said. “The next steps are engineering, drawing and planning.”
On June 9, 2024, the City of Monroe and the IHM Sisters announced KM Cornerstone’s option to purchase agreement. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Under the 2024 agreement, two years of planning were expected, and then Keith Masserant intends to purchase the building.
Monroe’s St. Mary Academy opened in 1846. The current Academy building, the third structure for the school, was constructed in 1932, according to Monroe News archives. SMA closed in 1987 when the school merged with the all-boys Catholic Central High School to form today’s St. Mary Catholic Central High School.
From 1987-2000, the former SMA building was used as a conference and retreat center and for offices. In 2000, during renovation of the Motherhouse, it housed sisters and was used for congregational offices.
The building has been vacant since 2005, when the sisters returned to the Motherhouse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: What’s next for Monroe’s St. Mary Academy building? Find out at June 29 forum
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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