Much like Philly, HBG seems to always have the threat of losing its long-time establishments hanging over its head...
McDevitt considers leaving city
Need for space prompts discussion of school in suburbs
Friday, July 21, 2006
BY JACK SHERZER
Of The Patriot-News
Bishop McDevitt High School is facing a dilemma: After 88 years, is it time to move out of Harrisburg?
With a long list of renovation and expansion needs, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg is considering whether it makes more sense to build a suburban high school or remain at 2200 Market St., on the fringes of Bellevue Park.
The decision ultimately rests with Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades. Diocese officials say they are studying both options, and there is no timetable for a decision.
The diocese earlier this year informed the school's parents, students and alumnus that the question was being examined. Since then, an intense but respectful debate has emerged.
Those who want to renovate the school talk of Bishop McDevitt's rich tradition and beautiful building and the importance of keeping a presence in urban Harrisburg.
Advocates for moving talk of the need for more parking, the need to expand the school's athletic fields and the opportunities for growth a new building could bring.
"I favor renovation simply because I think it's a unique architectural structure," said Carmen Finestra, a 1965 graduate and member of the school's Advancement Council, which has discussed the question. "I think it's a great location as far as being accessible to students inside the city and outside the city."
Finestra, a Hollywood producer who worked on "Home Improvement" and "The Cosby Show," acknowledged a suburban location might offer more space for parking and athletics.
"My concern about moving into the suburban area is losing some of the city base," he said. "I think that is a nice element of the school."
His wife, Tonia Stivale-Finestra, a '73 grad, agreed: "To rebuild is to disregard the school's history. Our throwaway society wants a quick fix; shiny and new doesn't mean better. McDevitt is fixable."
Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis, a '65 grad, said he believes it is time for McDevitt to have a new home. Also on the school's Advancement Council, he points to the benefits more space would bring.
"It's a beautiful facility, but age has taken a toll," Lewis said. "It would be a massive undertaking to rehab the building, to bring it up to appropriate standards. The athletic field is hemmed in, to say the least, with no room for expansion.
"I believe renovation would be too costly. I believe in the long run, the new construction idea is the more practical," Lewis said. "I recognize the final decision rests with the bishop, and I will certainly abide by and respect his decision."
Both sides pledged to support the bishop's decision -- which is especially important, since either option will require fundraising, diocese officials readily acknowledged.
The Rev. Edward Quinlan, the diocese's secretary for education and former principal at Bishop McDevitt, said a number of people are putting together information and that no deadline has been set for a final report.
After the details of both options are known, Quinlan said the bishop will seek input. The idea of moving started being discussed in January, he said.
"The other part of the process was to begin to talk about this through the community," he said. "Clearly, you want to get a sense of the greater McDevitt community and what they will support in terms of a plan to move ahead."
Quinlan said safety in the urban area hasn't been a major issue, although the need for students to park a distance from the building has raised some concerns. The discussion has centered more on whether the current location can accommodate the athletics, parking and other needs of the school, he said.
Whatever the decision, Quinlan stressed commitment to the city.
"We would never want people to think that somehow the church is no longer interested in the city," he said. "Even if [the school] moved, that would never be our thinking."
Maryjo Szada, a '72 grad and doctor with a family medical practice in Steelton, said she believes the school's presence benefits the city.
"We believe the school is a viable alternative to the public school system," said Szada, who is also on the Advancement Council. "Being a Catholic school, we need to provide that presence of the church in the city and community."
Outgoing McDevitt parent association president Chris Plasic-Van Wagner agreed: "I feel McDevitt needs to stay in the city and be a presence in the city."
Plasic-Van Wagner's husband and four children are all McDevitt grads. Greg Van Wagner, 19, who graduated in May, said student feelings were mixed -- new facilities are tempting and the unairconditioned classrooms can get hot in the spring and fall.
He said he would favor staying, saying a move could diminish the school's spirit.
"It does have a lot of history behind it and it makes McDevitt something a little different," he said of the building. "If we move to a suburban area, we don't have the same image of the Catholic school; we're just another public school, almost."
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And now it looks like some of the older boroughs around the city have to deal with the same threat!
PENBROOK
57-year-old parish plans new church in L. Paxton
Friday, July 21, 2006
BY DIANA FISHLOCK
Of The Patriot-News
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Roman Catholic Church in Penbrook plans to build a church on a 19-acre site straddling the border of Susquehanna and Lower Paxton townships, church and diocese officials say.
The church might eventually move its school there, but probably not for many years, officials said.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriot...850.xml&coll=1
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