The community group intent on saving a shuttered Pittsfield church once slated for demolition is hosting a panel discussion Tuesday featuring the head of a national group that focuses on repurposing former places of worship.Robert Jaeger of the Partners for Sacred Places will lead a panel discussion on the repurposing options for St. Mary the Morning Star Church on Tyler St. It closed in 2008. A Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee pulled back on demolishing the building last year when a community group now calling itself the Friends of St. Mary’s led a petition drive opposing the move. Mayor Dan Bianchi has applauded the group’s efforts.
“It will take ideas, it will take capital, it will take big hearts, but that’s not to say…buildings like this have been reused,” Bianchi said when touring the church in 2014.
The discussion starts at 6 o’clock at St. Charles Church at 89 Briggs Avenue.
