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Neighbors concerned about future of Indy's Church of the Holy Cross site

The church has sat vacant since it held its last mass back in 2016.

INDIANAPOLIS — People in the Holy Cross neighborhood on the city's east side want answers about the future of their neighborhood church.

While the building has been vacant for years, the neighborhood association heard a local excavation company received request for demolition of Holy Cross Church.

"We have wondered if that was the direction it was going to go, but we hoped for reuse of the structure," Jen Higginbotham, Neighborhood Association president said.

The neighborhood has started a petition as well as talked with Indiana Landmarks about preservation.

"The Holy Cross Church is an important not only religious property, but institution in it's neighborhood," Mark Dollase, VP of Preservation Services said.

Credit: Anna Chalker/WTHR
The Church of the Holy Cross, located at 125 N. Oriental Street, sits vacant after holding its final mass service in 2016.

In 2019, Indiana Landmarks put the church on their list of most endangered landmarks in the state. After years of no change, they hope the Archdiocese of Indianapolis listens to the neighborhood about what they want.

"They don't want the church to go away, there's a lot of personal history for a lot of people," Higginbotham said.

In a statement to 13News, the Archdiocese said "The leadership of St. Philip Neri Parish is in the final stages of determining the future of the Holy Cross campus. There will be announcement when details are finalized."

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