Parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Boyd got a look at the interior plans for a new entryway Sunday, Feb. 8, submitting feedback and asking questions as the church prepares to replace old front steps that are nearly 100 years old.
The front entrance project, now with $1.4 million in pledges of a $1.6 million goal, is one of several updates the parish has made since coming together as one parish with three churches in 2013. The new entryway will be enclosed to protect it from the elements after preliminary feedback showed non-enclosed steps would not be supported. The new enclosed entryway will nonetheless showcase the original doorway stonework, with a large three stop elevator and stairs both included in the plans.
Erin Detweiler and Jake Watt from River Valley Architects were on hand with Market and Johnson Project Manager Michael Eslinger to answer questions Feb. 8. Plans for an elevator in the bell tower were moved to the new entryway after it was found an elevator would compromise the bell tower’s structural support. Congregants will be able to enter the church at street level, then choosing either the elevator or stairs to make their way to the sanctuary or basement areas.
The new entryway as planned includes an opening in the foundation wall with steel lintel to provide better basement access, the project also updating old electrical in the back of the church. Stairs on the project will be metal pan filled with concrete, the new addition able to have stained glass windows inserted at a future date.
The project to start this spring will have an estimated six to seven month construction timeline, with Sunday masses held elsewhere during the project. The roof of the new entrance will be flat top with rubber membrane, while brick for the addition will be matched as best possible to the current exterior, with new concrete sidewalks as well.
“We can certainly widen the stairs,” Detweiler said to a common audience comment on the inside plans.
The larger entryway project at St. Joseph’s is being coordinated with the Patten Street Rebuild Project to get both done at the same time and minimize road disturbance.